Dr. Corpolongo

Dr. John D. Corpolongo of Jay, Oklahoma passed away on March 31, 2012 in Gallup, New Mexico after riding in the Caballos Del Sol trail ride in Arizona. He was born on March 29, 1931 to Edith Frances Ferpotto and Benedetto (Ben) Arturo Corpolongo at home in Webb City, Oklahoma thirty minutes after the birth of twin brother, Arthur Dean. After the passing of Edith, Ben then married Ruby Gertrude Moren who became mother of the family until her death in 1991. John attended a one-room school in Webb City until the fifth grade, when his family moved to Okmulgee, Oklahoma, where he attended Wilson Elementary and Okmulgee Junior High. While in Okmulgee, he worked for the Okmulgee Daily Times as a paperboy and inserter and sold "extras" during World War II. In 1944, the family moved to Pittsburg, Kansas where he attended Pittsburg High School and played varsity football. He later attended Kansas State Teacher's College (now Pittsburg State University) and obtained his B.S. degree in Biology in 1952. During that time, he worked in a variety of jobs to support his schooling, including Jim's Steak House as a cook and the Yale Lock Company carrying military shells from boxcars. After leaving Pittsburg, he attended the Kansas City, Missouri Osteopathic College of Medicine and Surgery where he received his Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) degree in 1956. From 1956-1957 he completed his general rotating internship at the Normandy Osteopathic Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri and later completed his general surgery preceptorship with Gerald B. Pees, M.D., at the Allen County Hospital, Iola, Kansas from 1960-1963. Dr. Corpolongo established a General Surgery and Family Practice in Iola in partnership with Dr. Glenn V. Carney by forming the Iola Osteopathic Clinic in 1959. He became Board-Certified in both family practice and general surgery during his career. While in Iola he also served as the Allen County Coroner from 1960-1981 and Chief of Staff of the Allen County Hospital. He coached Little League and supported local sports and the community by serving as a booster and team physician for the Allen County Community College, volunteer team physician for Iola High School Athletics and as a charter member of the Allen County Country Club. During 1972-1975, he served on the Governor's Commission to the Kansas Statewide Emergency Medical Services Committee and, from 1977-78, served as President of the Kansas State Osteopathic Association. He also served on the Kansas State Healing Arts Board. Dr. Corpolongo moved to the Grand Lake of the Cherokees near Jay, Oklahoma in 1981 where he continued to practice medicine and pursue the passion of his life- trail riding. He first rode in the Chief Joseph Trail Ride, sponsored by the Appaloosa Horse Club, in 1970 and continued to participate as its official physician on this ride and the three other Appaloosa Horse Club rides: Apache Land in Arizona, Land of Liberty in Pennsylvania and Sheltowee in Kentucky. For this tenure of dedicated service, which eventually spanned over forty years, the Appaloosa Horse Club elected him to its Trail Ride Hall of Fame in 1995 and its general Hall of Fame in 2002. In between these and other rides, he provided locum tenens for six local medical and osteopathic physicians- covering for them while they were away, and was on staff of the following hospitals: Integris Grove General, Craig County General in Vinita, and St. John's Mercy in Joplin. He also helped to staff the Christian Clinic of Grand Lake and provided urgent care services through the Rapid Remedy Clinic in Grove. Throughout his long and distinguished career, Dr. Corpolongo maintained memberships in many organizations and associations, including the American Osteopathic Association, Oklahoma Osteopathic Association, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, American Association of Physician Specialists and American College of Osteopathic Sports Medicine (Lifetime). Dr. Corpolongo was preceded in death by his father Ben, mother Edith, stepmother Ruby, sister Margie Hanes and brother-in-law Lewis Hanes. He is survived by his wife Joy of Jay; brother Art of Lebanon, MO; son John Michael, daughter-in-law Melinda and grandson John Matthew of Edmond, OK; and the following niece and nephews: Linda Hanes Zizzo and her husband Paul of Edmond, OK; Charles Hanes of San Jose, CA; Larry Hanes of Geneva, IL; Stan Hanes of Bartlesville, OK and Philip Jay Corpolongo of La Mirada, CA. As noted in the Appaloosa Horse Club website, Dr. Corpolongo derived his greatest satisfaction from helping others while enjoying time spent with his Appaloosas on the trail. Donations in his name can be made to: The Christian Medical Clinic of Grand Lake, Inc., POB 451368, Grove, OK 74345; Integris Grove Hospital Building Fund, 1001 E. 18th Street, Grove, OK 74344 (Attention- Cathy Trewyn); or The ApHC Scholarship Fund, ApHC Museum at the Appaloosa Horse Club, 2720 W. Pullman Road, Moscow, ID 83843. No flowers please. The celebration of Dr. John's life will be held at the Grand Lake Casino Lodge/ Event Center (26301 South 655 Rd., Grove, OK 74344, 918-786-4406) on Friday, April 27, 2012 at 6PM. Services are entrusted to Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home, Grove, OK. Friends and family may leave notes of encouragement by viewing John's Book of Memories at www.honoringmemories.com.

Service Details

Friday, April 27th, 2012 6:00pm, Grand Lake Casino Lodge & Event Center

Interment Details

Cremation