Dr. John E. Doan, 83, a longtime resident and family physician in Decatur, died peacefully in his home in The Villages, Florida, on Sunday, December 13, 2015, surrounded by the love of his family.

John was born in Decatur on January 5, 1932 to John M. Doan and Doris (Eldridge) Doan.

John graduated from Decatur High School and proudly served his country in the Korean War as a member of the United States Marine Corps. After the war, he obtained his bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University and his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati. After a one year residency in Daytona Beach, FL, he returned to Decatur where he served the community as a family physician for more than twenty five years before moving to Florida and devoting the remainder of his career to emergency room medicine. He retired in 2000.

John’s profound love of country led him back to military service in the early 1980’s as a member of the Indiana Army National Guard, and upon his move to Florida, he transferred to the United States Air Force Reserve, 919th Special Operations Wing, from which he retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1999. During active duty assignments, he participated in military operations in Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

John loved the sport of wrestling. During the 1970’s, he served as the team doctor for the United States Wrestling Team, traveling to Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Iran and Turkey. He served as the team doctor for the Bellmont High School wrestling team and as the tournament doctor for the Indiana High School Athletic Association State Tournament for decades. John was inducted into the Indiana State Wrestling Association as a contributor to the sport.

John was preceded in death by his mother and father, his sister Gladys (Doan) Steury, and his brother Dr. Robert L. Doan. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca (Donat) Doan and their son Robert (Kirsten) of Deland, FL, and his sons Jon K. Doan (Sandy) of Lima, OH, Douglas E. Doan (Martha) of Decatur, daughter Marilyn Jo Sickafoose (Lynn) of Syracuse, IN., and their mother Barbara (Strickler) Carroll. John is also survived by his sister Annabelle (Doan) Heller of Decatur. John has eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Visitation will be held at Haggard – Sefton & Hirschy Funeral Home from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Tuesday, December 29. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, December 30 at 11 a.m. at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church.

Memorial donations may be made to the Decatur Wrestling Club, or a charity of your choice.