(no subject)
Paul Altemuehle, 71, Hebron veterinarian
A regular at Dutchman's Gun Club in Hebron, Paul B. Altemuehle loved to target shoot, but he never hunted.
The Hebron veterinarian, who died Wednesday at 71, dedicated his life to caring for animals.
Born and raised on West 16th Street in Covington, Dr. Altemuehle rode the bus to St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. He attended Villa Madonna College in Covington, and then graduated from the University of Kentucky. He studied veterinary medicine at Auburn University.
When he returned to Northern Kentucky, he taught veterinary medicine at the University of Cincinnati, and also served as the track veterinarian for Turfway Park in Florence.
In 1977, he decided to open his own practice. He used all his money and then some to establish the Hebron Animal Hospital in Boone County.
"He really went out on a limb," said his sister, Margie Reusch of Independence.
Since Boone County didn't have many veterinarians then, Dr. Altemuehle soon had many patients. But he almost lost them in 1983, when a fire burned the hospital nearly to the ground.
"He lost a lot of his equipment," his sister said. "Even his diploma was wrinkled and scorched."
A friend remodeled a three-car garage on Dr. Altemuehle's property into a temporary clinic so that he could still see patients while the animal hospital was rebuilt.
He treated large animals as well as small, his sister said, and had a few horses kick him in the head.
"He wouldn't do farm calls, because he would spend all day corralling the animal," she said.
Dr. Altemuehle sold his practice a few years ago. Now with three veterinarians, the business plans to open a new building on North Bend Road soon across from the Hebron Fire Department, his sister said.
Dr. Altemuehle had pets of his own, too. Living on the hospital property, he raised and showed great Danes for a while.
"He thoroughly enjoyed his dogs. They were his family," Reusch said. "His best friend was a little Jack Russell terrier who didn't know he was little."
A very civic-minded man, Dr. Altemuehle was a member of St. Xavier Church, Cincinnati, Pi Kappa Fraternity and the Five Seasons Sports County Club in Crestview Hills. He was a member emeritus of the Boone County Fair Board, treasurer of the Hebron Fire District, and past president of the Cincinnati Veterinary Medical Association and the Northern Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association.
He helped to start the Veterinary Medical Teachers Program at Raymond Walters College of the University of Cincinnati and received numerous awards for his contributions to the Boone County 4-H program.
"He was very pleasant and very positive," his sister said. "He had such a care for animals and for people. He thoroughly enjoyed what he did."
Other survivors include five nephews, four nieces, and several great-nephews and great-nieces.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Xavier Church, Cincinnati. There will be no visitation. Burial will be in Mother of God Cemetery,
Fort Wright.
Memorials are suggested to Friends of the Shelter, P.O. Box 93, Union, Ky. 41091 or to St. Elizabeth North Hospice, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41014.
Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Hebron, is handling arrangements.
A regular at Dutchman's Gun Club in Hebron, Paul B. Altemuehle loved to target shoot, but he never hunted.
The Hebron veterinarian, who died Wednesday at 71, dedicated his life to caring for animals.
Born and raised on West 16th Street in Covington, Dr. Altemuehle rode the bus to St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. He attended Villa Madonna College in Covington, and then graduated from the University of Kentucky. He studied veterinary medicine at Auburn University.
When he returned to Northern Kentucky, he taught veterinary medicine at the University of Cincinnati, and also served as the track veterinarian for Turfway Park in Florence.
In 1977, he decided to open his own practice. He used all his money and then some to establish the Hebron Animal Hospital in Boone County.
"He really went out on a limb," said his sister, Margie Reusch of Independence.
Since Boone County didn't have many veterinarians then, Dr. Altemuehle soon had many patients. But he almost lost them in 1983, when a fire burned the hospital nearly to the ground.
"He lost a lot of his equipment," his sister said. "Even his diploma was wrinkled and scorched."
A friend remodeled a three-car garage on Dr. Altemuehle's property into a temporary clinic so that he could still see patients while the animal hospital was rebuilt.
He treated large animals as well as small, his sister said, and had a few horses kick him in the head.
"He wouldn't do farm calls, because he would spend all day corralling the animal," she said.
Dr. Altemuehle sold his practice a few years ago. Now with three veterinarians, the business plans to open a new building on North Bend Road soon across from the Hebron Fire Department, his sister said.
Dr. Altemuehle had pets of his own, too. Living on the hospital property, he raised and showed great Danes for a while.
"He thoroughly enjoyed his dogs. They were his family," Reusch said. "His best friend was a little Jack Russell terrier who didn't know he was little."
A very civic-minded man, Dr. Altemuehle was a member of St. Xavier Church, Cincinnati, Pi Kappa Fraternity and the Five Seasons Sports County Club in Crestview Hills. He was a member emeritus of the Boone County Fair Board, treasurer of the Hebron Fire District, and past president of the Cincinnati Veterinary Medical Association and the Northern Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association.
He helped to start the Veterinary Medical Teachers Program at Raymond Walters College of the University of Cincinnati and received numerous awards for his contributions to the Boone County 4-H program.
"He was very pleasant and very positive," his sister said. "He had such a care for animals and for people. He thoroughly enjoyed what he did."
Other survivors include five nephews, four nieces, and several great-nephews and great-nieces.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Xavier Church, Cincinnati. There will be no visitation. Burial will be in Mother of God Cemetery,
Fort Wright.
Memorials are suggested to Friends of the Shelter, P.O. Box 93, Union, Ky. 41091 or to St. Elizabeth North Hospice, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41014.
Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Hebron, is handling arrangements.