Dr. James A Bastron

Dr. James A. Bastron, age 94, a resident of Charter House, passed away August 14, 2014. He was born May 13, 1920 in Ottumwa, Iowa, the son of Dr. Alexander & Grayce (Katsch) Bastron.Dr. Bastron received his B.A. Degree in 1942 and his M.D. Degree in 1944, both from the University of Iowa, Iowa City. He interned at Wesley Memorial Hospital in Chicago one year before being called to active duty with the United States Army in 1945.He attained the rank of captain in the Army and served to the end of WWII. He was also called into active duty as a medical officer in the U.S. Air Force for a short time during the Korean War.He completed his residency in Pathology at Columbia University in New York City in 1948.He entered the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine that year as a fellow in Surgery, later transferring to Neurology.He was named an Assistant to Staff at Mayo in 1951and later appointed Consultant in Neurology.He received a M.S. Degree from the University of Minnesota for work done during his residency program.Dr. Bastron was an instructor in the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine from 1956-67, and advanced to Assistant Professor of Neurology in 1973.Throughout his career with Mayo Clinic he maintained an interest in electromyography. He is Past President of the American Association of Electromyography and Electrodiagnosis, and served that organization as Secretary-Treasurer and Program Chairman.In 1984 he was a member of its long range planning committee.Following his retirement with Mayo Clinic in 1985, he became Medical Director of the U.S. Bureau of Prison's Federal Medical Center in Rochester. He later worked in Jacksonville for Mayo Clinic-Florida, serving as Interim Chair of the Department of Neurology prior to his final retirement. His personal interests included fishing, gardening, nature and the outdoors.He started playing golf in high school and enjoyed the game well into his 80s.He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan, and he loved reading history and traveling throughout the world. On September 1, 1945 in Red Oak, Iowa he married Louise Lomas and she survives, as do his three children: Mary Jo Harper (husband C. Michel) of Rochester, Malcolm Bastron (wife Mary Ann) of Rochester, and son James Jamie Bastron of Preston.Five grandchildren survive: Nicholas James Harper, Sarah Beth Harper (husband Sean Fulford), Caitlin Joanna Harper, Jeffrey Bastron (wife Beth) and Laura Lee (husband Jon), as well as a sister: Barbara Affolter of Temecula, CA.His parents and one brother, Robert, preceded him in death. The family wishes to thank Dr. Bastrons physicians, nurses and caregivers at Mayo Clinic, Charter House Home Care and Skilled Care, and Mayo Hospice for their excellent care and kindnesses. Memorial services for Dr. Bastron will be held 11 AM Thursday, August 21, 2014 at First Presbyterian Church, 512 3rd Street SW Rochester, MN, with visitation there one hour prior to services.His cremains will be entombed in the Columbarium at the First Presbyterian Church.In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to the First Presbyterian Church or Mayo Clinic Neurology Department.