Dr Mark Bartsch: Dedicated doctor who served his community for decades suddenly ends his own life – leaving heartbroken wife in ‘utter shock’

A “compassionate” doctor who served his community for decades has died suddenly, sparking an outpouring of grief from friends and patients.

Dr. Mark Bartsch passed away on April 2, just months before celebrating his 25th year at Healthlink Family Medical Center in Cranbrook, south-west Townsville.

He was known as an ’empathetic and hardworking’ GP who supported generations of local residents and will be ‘difficult to replace’.

His heartbroken wife of 28 years, Taryn Claire, shared the devastating news on social media on Tuesday.

‘Today I woke up with a heavy heart. My world has been turned upside down now that my loved one has chosen his own timeline to leave,” Ms Claire said.

Dr. Bartsch’s heartbroken wife of 28 years, Taryn Claire (pictured together), shared the devastating news on social media on Tuesday

“This has left me devastated, shocked, sad, confused, bewildered, distressed and traumatized….”

“There were no leading signals or indicators, there were no real clues, and this came as a complete shock.”

Mrs Claire started a Facebook group titled ‘Remembering Mark’ for those who knew her husband to share their grief over the popular doctor’s death.

There has been an outpouring of grief among locals who said Dr. Bartsch “stood at the forefront, rain, hail or shine, and dedicated his life to helping others.”

A man who had been Dr. Bartsch’s patient for fifteen years said that he “helped me through a lot and always had time for me when I needed him.”

‘I feel like I’ve lost a good friend. A good man gone too soon.”

Another patient of ‘over ten years’ said she was ‘absolutely devastated by the news of his death’.

“I don’t know what to do without him,” she wrote, with Dr. Bartsch adding, “It has been a huge help to me and I feel like I have lost a family member.”

One women’s event thanked the doctor for “saving my life” when he discovered she had breast cancer.

“(He) not only had a great impact on my life, but on the lives of my family as well,” she wrote.

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