Plainview residents mourn loss of long-time doctor - KXLT - Fox 47 Rochester MN News, Weather and Sports

PLAINVIEW, Minn. (FOX 47) -- Community members in Plainview are deeply saddened after the loss of their local doctor who worked there for decades. Dr. Daniel Pesch passed away after falling at his home in Elgin on Sunday.

Small town doctors earn big reputations over time and such was the case for Olmsted Medical Center's Dr. Daniel Pesch. Pesch is most known for practicing general medicine at OMC's former Elgin and current Plainview clinic.

"There's a sadness I think with everyone around," said Plainview pharmacist Craig Chastek.  "Just feeling a loss with everything that happened and how it could happen to a good guy like that." 

Chastek has been a pharmacist in Plainview for nine years and has worked with Dr. Pesch on daily basis. 

"A doctor in a small town is more than just someone you go to get a prescription." he said. "He knows the families. He looks after them. I think there's more of a personal relationship."

Plainview is a community of 3,000.  For the last 24 years, Pesch made hundreds of connections being involved in the community.

MaryEllen Gjerdingen is one woman who is very thankful to have made his acquaintance.

"Dr. Pesch is the one who found out that I had diabetes 26 years ago," she said. "And it's because of Dr. Pesch and his care that I am here today to help with the nursing home bingo."

At 100 years of age, Bethel Uecker knew the doctor before he was a doctor. 

"He said he was going to keep you going until you were a hundred, and he did," said Gjerdingen to Uecker.

"I think he was a very nice person for everybody," said Uecker.

Tuesday afternoon, outside the Plainview OMC, flowers and a sympathy card sat by the door honoring the man who served patients for nearly quarter of a century.

Dr. Daniel Pesch was 55 years old.