John "Doc" Tschudy

 John Anthony Tschudy, known around Elk Rapids as “Doc”, passed away at home after a lengthy battle with bladder cancer. At 88 years old, he lived a much longer and fuller life than he ever thought he would. John was born in Viroqua, Wisconsin, but soon moved to Milwaukee and later to the Panama Canal Zone where his father worked as a civil engineer on the locks. When World War II started his father joined the Army Corps of Engineers to continue working in Panama while he, his mother and two younger brothers Ron and Richard moved back to Milwaukee. After the war ended, the entire family moved back to the Canal Zone for another six years. When his father’s work was done there, the family moved to Park Forest, Illinois where he graduated from high school in 1953. He attended Albion College, and later graduated from University of Detroit’s School of Dentistry in 1962. After graduation, John enlisted in the Air Force as a dentist. He was commissioned with the rank of captain and stationed in Tripoli, Libya. While there, he explored the rich history of the region, once even accidentally discovering some ancient Roman ruins while on a surf outing with friends. 

 While in Tripoli, John and his first wife Rowena adopted two Greek children (Jack and Annika) and had one of their own (Will), moving back to the Detroit area after his service ended. He always knew he wanted to live somewhere near the water, so he began looking around northern Michigan for a suitable place to raise his family and start a dental practice. He decided on Elk Rapids for its natural beauty and abundance of lakes, bringing his family north to join him. 

 After he and his first wife divorced, he bought the building at 209 River St. where he started a new family with his second wife Susan, soon having three more children (Ben, Joanna and Nick). He continued his dental practice for many years until health issues forced him to retire in 2008. During his time in Elk Rapids he served his community through the Chamber of Commerce Board, the Downtown Development Authority, the Harbor Commission, the Village Council, and Rotary Club. John loved the town and people of Elk Rapids. He relished his early morning breakfasts & coffee with his fellow townspeople at T.J. Charlie’s, the Harbor Café & Java Jones. He would talk to anyone about anything and was a treasure trove of useful information and trivia. John’s passions included model-building, woodcarving, swimming and sailing, even once swimming across East Bay from Old Mission Peninsula to Elk Rapids. 

 John touched many lives during his time in this world. His friends and family will feel his loss for a long time. He is survived by his brothers Ron (Cynthia) and Richard, his children Annika, Will, Ben, Joanna and Nick, and his grandchildren Essence, Janoviea, Jerako, Deashia, Eli, Grace, Joy, Kian, Emmet and Felix. He was preceded in death by his parents Matilda and John, and his son Jack. 

A memorial in his honor will be held in Elk Rapids in the Summer of 2025. Dates and details are yet to be determined. 

Arrangements are in the care of the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.  Please sign his online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com