CHARLES F. TSCHOPP, M.D.
1930–2019
Charles, beloved husband, father and grandfather and devoted physician, left this earth at sunrise on a clear and sparkling winter morning.

Charles and his devoted wife, Lydia, were most recently living in the Seattle area near three of their four children. Charles died on February 10th at Swedish Hospital in Issaquah after being hospitalized with a broken hip.

Charles was the oldest son in his Udall, Kansas family and was born and raised there. After graduating as valedictorian from Udall High School, Charles attended Friends University in Wichita. He enjoyed his studies and was dismayed to be drafted in 1950 after finishing his sophomore year. He subsequently served in the Occupation Army in France instead of going to Korea. Through his service he earned the GI Bill, which enabled his further professional education and a career in medicine. Charles served until 1953 when he returned to his hometown and to college in Wichita in the fall.

He shared courses, activities and interests such as the Singing Quakers with the younger Lydia Milberger who had entered Friends when Charles returned as a delayed junior. By the time they graduated, they had begun the deep relationship that would lead to 60 years of marriage, four children and a life together far from their Kansas roots. Upon their graduation together from Friends University in 1956, Charles felt he had been called to serve people through medicine.

He entered University of Kansas Medical School in fall of 1956, married Lydia in 1958, and graduated medical school in 1959. Medical internship programs beckoned in other parts of the States. Charles' internship was in Norfolk, Virginia and at the same time he enlisted part time in the Public Health Service to help pay expenses. First child Stephanie was born in Norfolk in 1960. Upon completion of his residency, Charles was offered a PHS position on the Pribilof Islands in Alaska and got his first taste of service to the Alaska native populations.

After the Pribilof Islands, Charles moved their small family to Vermont and the family grew to include Julie, then Steve, then Philip born in the next four years. The cycle of attraction for Charles between Vermont and Alaska then started in earnest, and in 1965 when he learned of an opportunity in Alaska he moved his young family of six back there. In 1968 he was once again persuaded to change up his life and move the family across the country from Alaska to Vermont for what would be golden years, a good life in Shelburne, Vermont on Lake Champlain. Charles headed up the department at University of Vermont (UVM), mentored many medical interns from all over the world, and taught med school courses.

Finally, in 1974, the lure of Alaska and the opportunity to perform medical service through the Public Health Service called to Charles once again. The entire family of six, two dogs and two horses drove two cars with a horse trailer behind clear across the country from Vermont, through Canada, and connected with the Al-Can Highway the rest of the way to Alaska. This time would prove to be the final move.

Charles served with the Public Health Service for several years before being invited into private practice as one of the founding partners of Geneva Woods ENT Associates and Surgery Center. Charles and his partners managed a very busy practice, and he gained the admiration and respect of his community, office staff, colleagues and patients, some across the bush where he conducted clinics.

The family grew up and half fledged down the West coast but Charles, Lydia and Steve remained in Anchorage for the next 42 years. Charles retired in 1998 from his medical practice. In retirement, Charles and Lydia enjoyed their grandchildren and their home as hosts to many friends and relatives who liked to visit the great state of Alaska. Though Charles and Lydia never returned to their Midwest roots, they kept family and friendship ties strong bringing visitors to them.

Possibly to counter the climate but also out of a continuing sense of curiosity about the world and history, Charles and Lydia also participated in excellent international tours with the KU Alumni Association - many with sister and brother in law Caroline and Stuffy - to Japan, Greece, Turkey, Spain, Ireland, England, France, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, the Galapagos, Ecuador, Israel to name some. In a late in life move due to infirmity, Charles and Lydia left Alaska to live closer to three of their four children in the Seattle area. Charles enjoyed spending more time with his children and grandchildren and less time in snow and cold.

Charles leaves his wife of 60 years, Lydia, four children, Stephanie Tschopp Whan and husband Steve of Sammamish, WA, Julie Campbell and husband Alan, of Sammamish, WA, Steven Tschopp of Anchorage, and Philip Tschopp and wife Hyokyoung Byun of Seattle. He also leaves grandchildren in and around the Seattle area - Jeffrey, Alex, Dan, Emily, Andrew, Sungil and Ina - and a sister, Margaret Cline, in Alvin, Texas.

Charles will be coming home to rest in Kansas in September. Graveside services will be held on September 28th at 10:30 A.M., Ninnescah Cemetery in Udall, Kansas. Those wishing to pay respects are invited to join the family for the service.