Dr. Gibbs Walter Zauft, age 87, died Monday, November 29, 2010 at Maplewood of Sauk Prairie. He was born in Sumpter Township, Sauk County, on October 24, 1923, the son of the late Walter and Estelle (Gibbs) Zauft. His 23 year old mother, Estelle, died days after his home birth. He often mentioned that her death prompted his commitment to a medical career and local health care. His grandparents, Carleton and Emma Gibbs, raised him for a short time on their farm near Devil's Lake before moving to Prairie du Sac. He was active in Prairie du Sac High School sports and music programs. He loved jazz and played the trombone and the piano.

When he finished high school in 1941, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for two years where he followed his love of sports, playing basketball and lettering in baseball in 1943 for the Badgers.


With the war underway Gibbs chose military service in the Navy. His two years as a pharmacist's mate at the Naval Hospital in Seattle, WA, were the foundation of his medical career. He attended pre-medical school at Willamette University in Salem, OR, as he completed his service commitment. He returned to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he completed his medical degree in Family Practice in 1950. He then returned to the west coast to complete a residency in Family Medicine at Swedish Hospital and Children's Orthopedic Hospital in Seattle.

Gibbs married Joan M. Martin in 1947. He first practiced with Milton Trautman, MD, in Prairie du Sac in 1951 but took leave when he was recalled to Navy service in 1955. It was during Gibb's first years as a doctor that he experienced the disadvantages and difficulties of serving patients without a nearby hospital, driving him and others to initiate the quest for a hospital. He was successful in building the Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital but wasn't able to attend the opening because of his service commitment until the summer of 1957 at the Great Lakes U.S. Naval Hospital in Chicago. He resumed his medical education by pursuing specialized training in ear, nose and throat care at the University of Illinois Research Hospital.


Upon his return to Prairie du Sac Gibbs opened his clinic in his boyhood home on Seventh Street until the newly established Prairie Clinic was open on Fourth Street with his longtime partner and friend Dr. Paul Bishop. The Prairie Clinic, a well-known and respected healthcare provider in the area, is another community health benefit that is attributed to Gibbs. The hospital will be his most lasting accomplishment, but he was a past president of the Sauk County Medical Society, served as president of Lake Wisconsin Country Club where he brought in the first golf pro, and always supported local and Badger sports as a board member and officer, including the president of the National W Club in 1976 and 1977. He was also a member of the Lions Club. Dr. Zauft retired from medical practice in 1984.

He was a consummate outdoorsman enjoying hunting with his black lab Tarzan, fishing for blue gills and playing golf and tennis. He also played many summers for the Sauk Prairie Twins Baseball Team and enjoyed his weekly game of bowling and favorite card game euchre during the winter. Gibbs was also a talented cook. Among his favorite dishes were pheasant in red wine, blue gill fish frys and anything on the barbecue.


He is survived by his wife, Joan of Sauk City; a son, Steven (Donna) of San Antonio, TX; two daughters, Barbara (Tim) Fabozzi of New York, NY and Terri (Matt) Zauft of Boston, MA; three grandchildren, James, Ashley and Courtney. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Gary.



The family would like to thank the entire staff of Maplewood, Maplewood Village and Dr. John Koch for their compassionate care throughout his stay. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Memorials are preferred to Sauk Prairie Sports Booster Club and Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital.