Mark Muesing, 'an old country doctor,' dies at 75

A Brainerd doctor who was described as an "old country doctor" has died.

Dr. Mark Muesing, who was a family physician at the Lake Region Clinic in Brainerd, died Monday at 75 at his East Gull Lake home.

Dr. Dave Boran, the chief medical officer of Brainerd Lakes Health, said Tuesday in a telephone interview that he and Muesing worked together at Lake Region Clinic for 13 or 14 years. Boran said he started at Lake Region Clinic in 1977. He said Muesing retired from the clinic in the early 1990s, right before the clinic's 1993 merger with Brainerd Medical Center.

Boran said, "I knew him for many years. He was an energetic physician, he had a good sense of humor and he had strong opinions. It was a pleasure to work with him.

"I'd describe him as an old country doctor. He had a good relationship with his patients and they liked him a lot. He was a good doctor. ... He was a family physician and he also did allergy work and testing."

Boran said Muesing went to work for the Veterans Administration Medical Center in St. Cloud for a number of years before he officially retired.

Boran said he hadn't seen Muesing in the recent months, but he knew he was ill.

"I'm saddened to hear he died," said Boran. "He was sick for a while and all his old patients and colleagues will miss him."

Boran said Muesing was always proud of his family; his wife, Shirley, and their four children, who excelled in academics and sports.

Boran said Muesing was a sports enthusiast. And he loved to fish and be on the lake.

Dr. Mark Gray, now of Brainerd Lakes Health, also practiced with Dr. Muesing at Lake Region Clinic. Gray said he started at the clinic in 1982 and was there until it closed.

"What I'll always remember about Mark was his sense of humor," said Gray. "It was fun to be around him. He had a wit about him ... He practiced in southwestern Minnesota before coming here so he brought that country doctor style with him, the more down-home style relationship with his patients."

JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.