St. Charles obstetrician touched many lives

For more than 10,000 babies born in DuPage County, Dr. Edward Gulling's face was their welcome into the world.

It was the kind of meeting that never grew tiresome for the mustachioed doctor, who usually wore eyeglasses and a smile.

"He absolutely loved delivering," said Dr. Jackie Clasen, who worked with Gulling for 12 years as a partner at DuPage Medical Group in Glen Ellyn. "It never lost its appeal."

Gulling, a well-respected OB-GYN who delivered an average of about 333 babies a year over 30 years at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, died Saturday after a sudden illness. He was 59.

On Wednesday, Gulling, of St. Charles, was being remembered for his joking nature, his love of medicine and his ability to put patients at ease.

"He was more than a doctor," said Gulling's daughter Bridget, of St. Charles. "He was a counselor, he was a friend. He really took the time to sit and listen to each of his patients and make sure all of their needs were met."

Born in Canton, Ohio, Gulling was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine. He also was a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

As a doctor at DuPage Medical Group, Gulling played practical jokes on colleagues and was known fondly for letting his schedule back up while he spent extra time with patients.

"He would spend as much time with each patient as they needed," Clasen said. "He had a great presence with people. He was never rushed, never angry. Always very calm and good to people."

Outside of work, Gulling was a man of faith and regular churchgoer at St. Patrick Catholic Church in St. Charles, his daughter said.

For the last 10 years, he spent much of his free time on a farm in Savanna, Ill., where he planted crops and trees as part of a Department of Natural Resources preservation program. He also enjoyed gardening, fishing and mushroom hunting.

Gulling was married for 35 years to Colleen, a nurse. They had three children, Richard Logan, Maura and Bridget.

At home, Gulling was an inspiration to each of his children, his daughter said, by being always willing to listen and encouraging them to follow their hearts.

"He never pushed any of us to follow in his footsteps, but he really pushed all of us to follow our dreams," said Bridget Gulling, who is studying internal medicine at Loyola. "I feel like I have big shoes to fill."