Albert Gene Bledig

Albert G. Bledig, M.D. (“Dr. B”), formerly of Eldorado, Ill., passed away on Sunday, December 24, 2017 at his residence near St. Louis, Mo.  Dr. Bledig was an admired and beloved member of the community for his dedication to the medical profession, his personal devotion to his patients, and his commitment to civic duties.  He began his medical practice in Eldorado in 1961 and served the area as a family physician for fifty-six years, before his recent retirement in September.   Originally from Galatia, Dr. Bledig attended the University of Illinois for both undergraduate studies and medical school.  He completed an internship at Illinois Central Hospital in Chicago and served as a captain in the Army (medical services) before entering private practice in Eldorado.  He was certified as a charter member of the American Board of Family Medicine in 1971, and was committed to maintaining that rigorous distinction every 7 years throughout his career.  Dr. Bledig was admired by patients for his gentle bedside manner, and he was respected by colleagues for his medical knowledge and perceptive diagnosis skills, which he passed along to medical students as a mentor.  Among the many other honors earned by Dr. Bledig for his medical service are the Physician of Excellence Award from the Illinois Rural Health Association and his selection as one of America’s Top Family Doctors by the Consumers’ Research Council of America.  In addition to delivering health care, Dr. Bledig also served the community in a variety of civic roles.  He had been a member of the Eldorado school board and the SIC board of trustees (each for 3 terms), and he also served on the board of directors for Ferrell Hospital and Fountainview Nursing Home.  He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Eldorado, where he was a longtime member of the choir.  Dr. Bledig was devoted to his profession and his patients, but his greatest passion was spending time with his family.  Over the years he enjoyed family vacations, trips in their motor home, boating and relaxing at their lake house on Lake Barkley, and attending his children and grandchildren’s plays, concerts, and school functions.  He loved baseball, having played catcher in local leagues during high school and college, and was an avid lifelong fan of the Cardinals.  He also loved a variety of music, especially country.    Dr. Bledig is survived by his wife of sixty years, Alice, three children – Sara Griffeth (Bob), Stefan Bledig, and Sallie Ash (Jim), seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.  He is also survived by a sister, Anna Lee Knight, two brothers-in-law, Franklin Kube (Janet) and John Kube (Diane), and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Fanno and Rose Bledig, and by a brother-in-law, Jim Knight.  Public visitation for Dr. Bledig will be on Friday, December 29th from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Colonial Terrace Funeral Home in Eldorado.  Funeral services will be private. Donations may be made to the American Kidney Association.

 Service Information