Michael J. Lauck

– Michael J. Lauck, of Scottsdale Arizona, was born on October 7, 1938, in Peoria, Illinois. After spending his early years in Illinois, Mike’s family relocated to California. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, went to jump school, and was stationed in Germany for several years with the 82nd Airborne. Upon his discharge, he returned to California to attend undergraduate school. In 1968 he graduated with a DDS from Loyola University Dental School in Chicago, where he met his wife, Carole, in 1964. Over the next few years, he completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery training

In 1973 he established a private practice in Elmhurst, Illinois initially in a small office over a Walgreens drug store, and he maintained that practice in various locations in Elmhurst for the next 35 years. For many years he divided his professional time between Elmhurst Hospital and his private practice, taking emergency room calls every few nights often for patients with facial fractures and young patients with facial injuries from falls or sports. A relaxed guy with a great sense of humor, he rode his motorcycle to the hospital and office often.

Respected by his colleagues and loved by his staff and his patients, early on Mike instituted a policy of charging senior citizens and families with a disabled member $5 for any oral surgery procedure. One of his older patients was so shocked to get a $5 charge for an hour in Dr. Lauck’s office that he called Bob Greene, a nationally syndicated columnist to let him know

SCOTTSDALE

about his experience in the office and what he was asked to pay. Bob Green published a column in the Chicago Tribune a few days later, local radio talk shows discussed the column, and the story of Dr. Mike and his generous and compassionate care of patients was read into the U.S. Congressional record by U.S. Senator Allen Dixon. In addition, Mike would often intervene with hospital administration on behalf of his patients if some of the hospital charges were prohibitive for that family.

Possessing a strong social conscience, Mike loved his volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity on many weekends, and for nearly 5 years was honored to chair the ethics committee at Elmhurst Hospital. After retiring to Arizona in early 2009, he was asked to head the concert committee at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, which he did for a number of years. He and Carole loved entertaining friends, going to the theatre and concerts, dancing, and beginning in 2022, playing pickleball. In spite of the stresses over the years from two jobs, a younger son with autism, and caring for two wonderful mothers in their later years, Mike and Carole shared a deep and abiding love for each other that lasted nearly six decades.

In early 2023, Mike was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. With the grit and grace that would be expected of a member of the 82nd Airborne, he battled the disease for many months and over several hospitalizations with the extraordinary treatment provided at the Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center and Banner Gateway Medical Center. He passed away September 11th in comfort care at the hospital with Carole and Greg at his bedside. Mike was preceded in death by his father James, his mother Margot Board, and brothers Lawrence and Jerome. He is survived by his wife Carole Powers, sons Gregory (Lisa) and Sean, grandson Nathaniel and his brother Alfred. Services were private and a celebration of Mike’s life is being planned. Memorial donations can be made in Michael’s honor to Banner MD Anderson Hematology Research.