Dr. Stewart W. Gifford of Green Bay, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully in his sleep at home on January 25, 2018. Loving husband to Tanya, father to Drew and son of Clara (Szatalowicz) Gifford; dear brother to Cathy and Tom; brother-in-law to Ron, Carol and Marcia; dear uncle to Matthew and Erin Gifford, and Sabrina, Maia and Karah Sutton. In addition, he had many aunt, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father Wayne; grandparents Dewey and Julia Gifford, Thomas and Mary Szatalowicz; numerous aunts and uncles.

Stewart or known informally as Stu to many, was born on May 13, 1952 in Kansas City, Missouri. He moved with his family at a young age to Rockford, Illinois where he went to Catholic elementary school and graduated from Boylan Catholic High School in 1969. He had many happy memories of times spent at Grandpa and Grandma Szatalowicz's farm in Thorp, Wisconsin.

Stu graduated from Lewis University, Lockport, Illinois in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. After graduating, he attended the University of Illinois Medical School in Chicago and received his M.D. in 1977. Afterwards, he went on to do his five-year residency in General Surgery at the University of Illinois Metropolitan Group Hospitals where he was Chief Surgical Resident. He met Tanya at Illinois Masonic Medical Center and after completing his residency in 1982; they married and moved to Virginia, Minnesota where he began his surgical career.

After two years in Minnesota, they came to Green Bay in 1984 where he was proudly associated with the well-respected Green Bay Clinic until 2001. He then went into private practice and established General and Vascular Surgery of Green Bay.

Stewart had been a staff surgeon from 1984 until the present at Bellin Health, St. Vincent Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital. He was also a staff physician at the Bellin Health Wound Center from 2010 to the present. Additionally, he was very active in the treatment of breast cancer patients and in association, the Ribbon of Hope organization.

He was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons since 1986 and a member of the Wisconsin State Medical Society and the Brown County Medical Society.

Dr. Gifford was a very dedicated physician and surgeon. He always strived for excellence and to provide his patients with the best possible care. It was his firm belief that his patients always came first.

Stewart had been looking forward to enjoying his retirement after many years of dedicated service to the community. He had retired on December 28, 2017.

A memorial gathering will be held at the Pfotenhauer Funeral Home & Cremation Service, East-Town location, 2379 East Mason St., on Friday, February 2, 2018 from 4 until 7:00 p.m. Online condolences welcome at www.PfotenhauerFuneral Home.com

May you rest in peace and be in God's care.