Klaus Hergt

Dr. Klaus Hergt of Cheboygan, Michigan passed peacefully
at his home surrounded by family and friends
on Wednesday, March 30th, 2011,

Dr. Hergt was born October 2nd, 1926 in Weimar, Germany
to his parents, Dr. Walter and Alice Hergt.

His experiences growing-up within Germany later fueled a passionate interest in
human rights work and his inquiries into moral philosophy. He graduated high school
shortly before the end of the Second World War and after the war’s conclusion,

Dr. Hergt studied medicine in Mainz, Germany before immigrating to the
United States in 1952.

Dr. Hergt was initially drawn to medicine as a chemist and was granted permanent
residence and later citizenship in the United States by a special act of Congress
sponsored by the late Senator Pat McNamara and signed by President Eisenhower in
order to research tuberculosis, which he did in Bay City, Michigan. He completed
his internship at Detroit Receiving Hospital. After acquiring a specialty in surgery, he
entered into a general practice where he was the chief doctor for the Chrysler
Corportation and Chief of Staff of Delray Hospital. He later pioneered new
approaches to burn treatment at the University of Michigan Burn Clinic.

Dr. Hergt lived and worked in numerous communities throughout Michigan
including metropolitan Detroit, Petoskey, and East Jordan before settling and
establishing his medical practice in Cheboygan in 1979. He is since known for his
numerous medical and civic engagements which include Chief of Staff and
Chief of Surgery at Cheboygan Memorial Hospital, his active involvement in the
Cheboygan Youth Center and Human Relations Board, and his organization of the
first Dr. Martin Luther King Day celebration in Cheboygan. He served as
Medical Director at Cheboygan’s Hospice of the Straits for seventeen years.

Dr. Hergt authored the book Exiled to Siberia which was published in 2000, and at
the time of his death, had completed his manuscript Morality for You and Me.

Dr. Hergt skied, swam, rowed, kayaked and smoked his pipe avidly. He savored the
beauty that northern Michigan had to offer.

Dr. Hergt is survived by:
his sister, Heidi (Christian) Clausen,
his three children John (Maryann), Deanna and Eric, and
one grandchild, Brian.

In 1988 he married Sabra Wheelock who survives him along with
five step-children, Barry, Beth, Wayne, Karen and Michelle, and
two grandchildren, Brandon and Benjamin.

A memorial service will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, April 2nd, at the
Cheboygan Knights of Columbus Hall.

Funeral arrangements have been made by Beck Funcral Home.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Hospice of the Straits-Vital Care and
the Cheboygan Youth Center.