Obituary of Charles N. Bean

Dr. Charles N. Bean, age 87, died Aug. 15, 2015. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie H. Bean and Beatrice S. Bean (nee Shaw). He spent his early years in Newton, Iowa. The family later moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where he met Donna at East High School. He enlisted in the Marines. Upon discharge, he married Donna. He earned a B.A. and M.D. at the University of Iowa. He did his internship at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. In 1956 he and his family moved to Waconia, MN, where he and his wife have lived ever since. Bean was one of the initial partners of Lakeview Clinic and one of the first doctors on the medical staff of Ridgeview Hospital. He delivered over 1500 babies in his community. He was a Bush Fellow. He was a community leader, served as President of the school board, was involved in community musicals, and one of the founding members of Island View Country Club. He was a leader at the Waconia Moravian Church where he sang in the choir for over 55 years and served on its boards. He also served the Moravian Church at the national level as a member of the Provincial Elders Conference in the 1970s. He was known as the high school 'football doctor', providing health screenings for the team and walking up and down the sidelines at most the games. He was an unassuming man who lived his life with integrity, centered on family, church, and his patients. He valued always trying one's best, serving the needs of others and being generous. There was a mischievous streak in him which added to his accomplishments as a poker player. He is survived by his wife Donna Chemberlin Bean; his children, Peggy Ann Bean Chemberlin (Mark Greenawalt), Rebecca Rodriguez (Rick Rodriguez), Valerie Bean Wagner (Richard Wagner), and Charles N. Bean, Jr. (Betsy Howes-Bean), his sister Bonnie King (Arthur King); seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren, one sister-in-law, and six nieces and three nephews. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 22 at 1 PM at the Waconia Moravian Church, 209 East 2nd Street, Waconia. A reception and open house will follow in the fellowship hall. All are invited to the service and/or the open house. Memorials may be made to the Ridgeview Hospital Foundation Endowment Campaign, 490 S Maple St, Suite 110, Waconia, MN, 55387 or the Waconia Moravian Church, 209 East 2nd Street, Waconia, 55387.