Geary Community Hospital officials have confirmed that former general surgeon, Dr. Charles Bollman, has died. He was 77.

Bollman was a practicing general surgeon for 42 years at Geary Community Hospital before his retirement in June of 2017. In his later years he lived in Osprey, Florida.

Bollman noted in 2017 that when he began working in Junction City in 1974 the community did not have a surgeon. He thought it was a great opportunity for him to start a practice.

Geary Community Hospital CEO Dr. Joseph Stratton confirmed Bollman passed away Tuesday morning. He had been ill in recent days. “That’s a life well lived by someone. There wasn’t a better gentleman than Dr. Charles Bollman, as well as just a very very fine doctor.”

Stratton added Bollman had a big influence on the success of Geary Community Hospital. “When you consider that Geary Community Hospital is about 105 years old and he was here for 42 of those years. That is a significant number of years to be part of a history anywhere of any employer, any institution.”

The Chairman of the Geary Community Hospital Board of Trustees, Dr. Mark Stenstrom, DVM , said. “He was not only a pillar of the hospital  but a pillar of the community. He epitomized the word professional and gentleman.”