About Dr. James E. Albrecht

In his book, The Life and Times of a Country Doctor, Dr. James E. Albrecht reveals his humbleness, his humanity, and his love for providing patient medical care in the communities of West Bend, Jackson, and Hartford. He wrote, “This is what God wanted me to do.” Dr. Albrecht’s dedication and relentless effort to help those with critical health needs, and who had no other place to go, is precisely what he did.

In 1947, at the age of 32 Dr. Albrecht graduated from medical school, and soon after became the first anesthesiologist for Hartford Hospital. For several years he spent 3 days a week giving anesthesia to their patients. In 1953, the same year he became Washington County’s first coroner, Dr. Albrecht had a custom-made anesthesia machine delivered to St. Joseph’s Hospital in West Bend. Soon after the Hartford Hospital hired their own anesthesiologist, Dr. Albrecht serviced patients in the St. Joseph’s Hospital as the head supervisor for the department of nurse anesthetics until 1975.

Being the Christian man he was, in every step of his life, he questioned himself in his community endeavors with attending to the ill. He continuously asked, “What would God want me to do?” While he dedicated his service at St. Joseph’s Hospital, he remained the “doctor” for the Jackson community. Until his services merged with the larger General Clinic of West Bend in 1983, Dr. Albrecht was the 2nd largest employer in Jackson. His office ran like clockwork out of his own two-story house. His own personal home also contained the laboratory and the medications his patients needed.

Many of Dr. Albrecht’s patients were simply unable to pay for the costs of services and medications. He was known for trading his services for a dozen eggs or help with chores around his home. Mostly though, Dr. Albrecht simply donated his expertise, his time, and his services. He was committed to ensuring the health and vitality of the whole community.

In addition to all of his good work in treating patients in West Bend and Jackson, Dr. Albrecht also gave his patients a lift to the hospital. He transported them in the back of his own car, a station wagon he had tailored-made to fit stretchers in the back of it. If there was a car accident he was called to the scene. Right on the side of the road, he would spread out his army blanket and start administering oxygen.

The need for medical transport became so great, Dr. Albrecht provided the 1st ambulance service for Washington County. He then trained and educated the West Bend and Kewaskum Fire Department in developing their rescue squad personnel and services. Even though Dr. Albrecht perhaps was unequivocally “spread too thin”, and questioned himself and his work, his calling always was with God. He answered his patients and those who marveled at his community service, “don’t thank me, thank God….I am just a tool”.

Dr. Albrecht’s indelible legacy is enduring to Washington County. The immeasurable services he provided truly fostered the notion of aiding those in our local communities who direly need medical care. Today, you can view his early medical equipment—it is apart of our county’s pride and history, and is on display at the Washington County Historical Society at 320 S. 5th Avenue, West Bend, WI 53095. Dr. Albrecht’ s illuminating autobiographical memoir, The Life and Times of a Country Doctor, is available for reading and check-out at the West Bend Community Memorial Library.