Dr. John Garvin Telford, aged 92, of Bayfield, WI, passed away on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at Water’s Edge Care Center, Hayward, WI.

He was born on July 18, 1931, the son of Dr. Elbridge Wright Telford and Helen Wilhelmina (née Engstrom) Telford. He was raised in Dekalb, Illinois where his father practiced medicine.

He attended the Western Military Academy in Alton, IL, graduating in 1949. He served in the Korean Conflict for two years at the US Navy Air Corps in Glenview, IL. He attended Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, where he completed his undergraduate studies and medical school in 1959. While still in medical school he met his first wife, surgical nurse, Carol Schubert. They married in 1958. He completed his internship and further medical training at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL in 1961.

John had always loved nature and the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing, hiking and swimming, despite having had polio as a child. He had always dreamed of living in a remote place with natural beauty. After seeing an advertisement for a physician needed in Washburn, WI, he answered the “Call of the North”. Arriving in Washburn in March of 1961, with his young family, he soon found a perfect place on Lake Superior to call home.

John enjoyed many years of service as a general practitioner in Washburn. To most he was simply known as “Doc.” In the early days, he provided care at the old Washburn Hospital on Third Street, the Pure Air TB Sanatorium, the DuPont Plant, the local nursing home, as well as his outpatient clinics in Washburn and Bayfield. He attended the births of many Washburn residents. He even made house calls, carrying his little black bag. He continued his practice in Washburn until the “new hospital” -Bayfield County Memorial- closed in 1988. At the latter part of his career, he focused on Emergency Medicine, practicing as an ER physician in Hayward and Superior, WI until he retired in 1993.

John was a man in motion. He had no lack of energy or enthusiasm for all that the Chequamegon Bay Area had to offer. In the summer months, he embraced sailing, tennis, running, swimming, biking, fishing, and gardening. In the winter months, he enjoyed downhill and cross-country skiing. He competed in the Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth and the American Birkebeiner in Cable.

In mid-life came the end of his first marriage to Carol, but an exciting new chapter with Elizabeth “Libby” Morgan, a time marked by a spiritual renewal and Christian walk. Libby and John wed 1978 and moved to a quaint log cabin near Bayfield to start their life together. Libby shared many of the same outdoor interests as John and endeavored to keep pace, always rooting for him to win the race!

After retirement, he did not slow down. Snow months were spent tracking weather reports and grooming/maintaining the cross-country ski trails at Mt. Ashwabay, where there is now a “Telford’s Training Loop”. In the summer months he spent most of his time in his gardens at the cabin, “ten percent gardening, ninety percent gazing”. He took up watercolor painting, capturing the flowers and northern scenes that he so loved. He volunteered with his wife Libby at the Big Top Chautauqua and the Bayfield chamber of Commerce, receiving awards for volunteerism. They were honored to be the 2010 Bayfield Apple Festival Grand Marshals. He was a devoted Chicago Cubs fan. He regularly attended the Bayfield Presbyterian Church with his wife Libby.

John was loved most for his energy, enthusiasm, optimism, and courage. He fully embraced whatever he was involved in and eagerly brought others along.

He was humble, realistic and practical.

In the last two years of life, John and Libby resided at Water’s Edge Assisted living/Nursing home to be closer to Libby’s family. Libby was three months older than John and had passed away three months before him. Coincidentally, they both lived the exact same number of days on Earth.

John is survived by his daughter, Lizabeth Ann (Scott) Taylor, Venice, FL; son, David Elbridge Telford, Anchorage, AK; sister Annette Metzger, Pana, IL; Four grandchildren, Brendan (Ashley) McCay, Santa Barbara, CA, Erin (Sharon) McCay, St. Petersburg, FL, Julie McCay, Paris, France, and Megan (Matthew) Martinez, Seattle, WA; three nephews and one neice; five great-grandchildren; stepdaughter, Phoebe (Robert) Love, Oregon, WI; stepson, Barnaby (Beth) Morgan, Hayward, WI, and seven step-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Elizabeth “Libby”; sister Harriet “Happy” Echeveria, son in law Jeff McCay, stepson Ben Morgan, brother-in-law Donald Metzger and niece Kathleen Cameron.

A memorial service will be held on August 24, 2024, 11 am at the Bayfield Presbyterian Church, 306 Washington Avenue, Bayfield, WI with a visitation scheduled for 10:30 to 11:00 at the church, with Pastor Lawrence Lee officiating.

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the Mt. Ashwabay Outdoor Recreation Area or the charity of your choice.

Last Update: Aug 22, 2024 1:34 pm CDT