John Elsen of Three Lakes, Wis., died peacefully at his daughter’s home in Evanston, Ill., on Thursday, June 2, 2016, age 94.
He was born in Chicago on Feb. 9, 1922, to Matthias and Olive E. (Straw) Elsen and grew up in Winnebago, Ill.
John graduated from Winnebago High School in 1938, and Wheaton College, Wheaton, Ill., with a B.S. in Chemistry in 1942, and from Northwestern University Medical School in 1945.
After completing his internship and residency in Otolaryngology from the Cook County Hospital and the University of Illinois Medical School, John joined a private practice in Evanston in 1949.
He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps at Fort Campbell, Ky., during the Korean Conflict.
He was on the staff at Evanston Hospital and Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago and later at Bethesda Hospital in Chicago. He retired in 1991.
John met his wife, Virginia Culver, in chemistry lab at Wheaton College. They were married on Sept. 16, 1944, in West Hartford, Conn.
John made a commitment as a young man to follow Jesus Christ. This was exemplified by his love for God and his love for people.
John and Virginia were known for their gift of hospitality. In addition to their own 10 children, they took in numerous foster children, missionaries, international students and others in need of a home.
John and Virginia were active in Moody Church of Chicago for many years. In 1974, John and Virginia were jointly given The Distinguished Service to Society Award by Wheaton College.
John and Virginia’s ties to the North Woods of Wisconsin date back to 1957, when their two oldest boys attended camp at HoneyRock in Three Lakes. By 1960, John and Virginia themselves were camping at HoneyRock with their children and John served as camp doctor during those stays.
Since then, numerous children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have been campers, staff members, or both. In honor of John and Virginia’s contributions to camp life, HoneyRock dedicated the Elsen Operations Center in their honor in 2008.
In 1968, John and Virginia bought White Buck Lodge, an abandoned resort on Big Stone Lake in Three Lakes. John and his family spent countless hours rehabilitating the dilapidated lodge and guest cabins and it has since served as a retreat for family, friends, church and other groups. John and Virginia made White Buck Lodge their permanent home in 2007.
They attended Three Lakes Evangelical Free Church from its founding in 1984, later became members, and for a short time John served as an elder.
John was an early and active member of the Christian Medical and Dental Associations, going on short-term medical mission trips and served as one of its first presidents. John was instrumental in founding the free medical clinic at Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago, and volunteered his services regularly.
He served as an elder at the Moody Church in Chicago and was a trustee at Moody Bible Institute for over 30 years.
In addition to his medical practice, he enjoyed boating and water skiing, mechanical work, and “fixing things.”
John was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Josephine; foster daughter, Sharon Muir; sons, John III and David; grandchildren, Peter Muir and Aana Blalock.
John is survived by his wife, Virginia; his foster children, son-in-law, James Muir of Portland, Ore., Jo Nell Hargrave (Albion) of Phoenix, Ariz. and Charles Johnson; his children, Andrew (Carol) of Missoula, Mont.; Paul (Mary Beth) of Winnebago, Ill.,Sylvia Lovett (Michael) of White Bear Lake, Minn., Patricia Hubbard (Philip) of Northfield, Ill., Edward of San Anselmo, Calif., Kimberley Klamm (Thomas) of Evanston, Ill., Virginia (Jose Ocariz) of Spooner, Wis., and Carol (Peter Jourdain) of Whitewater, Wis.; 44 grandchildren and 56 great-grandchildren.
The funeral service was held on Monday, June 13, at First Presbyterian Church, Evanston, with Pastor Niall Philyaw of Three Lakes Evangelical Free Church officiating. A Memorial Service in Three Lakes is being planned for sometime this summer, date and time to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the Christian Medical and Dental Associations, Attn: Stewardship Department, P.O. Box 7500, Bristol, TN 37621.
PAID OBITUARY
