John M. Tschida

LIFE STORY John M. Tschida John was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on June 24, 1941. He was one of five children to Mary and Martin Tschida. He attended St. Bernard Grade School and later graduated from St. John’s Prep School. He secured a great job at 3M after high school and spent several years with the company. He eventually started his own company and became the CEO of Total Export Company, which specialized in packing exports. After losing his first wife to cancer at just 32 years old, he met Linda Manders and the two were married at Richfield Lutheran Church where Linda’s uncle was a pastor. They also had a private blessing at St. Jude of the Lake Catholic Church with close family and friends. He and Linda merged their families and raised their 6 children together, Tom, Dan, Mike, Jacob, Terri, and Ross. They moved to Hugo, Minnesota where they became involved with the different schools that the kids went to (Mahtomedi District, Hill-Murray High School, and St. John’s Prep Academy). It was this connection to the Mahtomedi area that brought them to become members of St. Jude of the Lake Catholic Church. Throughout their time with the church, John was very actively involved as a trustee to the church and as the President of the School Board as well. He had his hands full with his own company, serving the church as a dedicated parishioner, and having 6 kids to chase after and help coach their hockey teams. Throughout all that, he still managed to find time to be an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting, fishing, going up to the Boundary Waters, and spending time outdoors. He and Linda decided that they wanted a place for everyone to spend together so they bought a cabin in Two Harbors. This allowed them to have a beautiful vacation home close by. Although outdoorsmen, they simply liked to watch the beauty of the lake instead of doing watersports. By coaching hockey, John really began to like the sport and watched the Gophers and Wild play. He also enjoyed music, particularly Classic Country. John’s family was the center of his life and he enjoyed following the activities of his 14 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He was a great and reliable friend to many people, even joining a group of men each Saturday at Cobblestone in White Bear Lake for breakfast. He and Linda moved to White Bear Lake where they became faithful members of St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Parish. He is remembered by friends from church as steady, wise, humble, and faithful. He will be missed by all who knew him. John passed away on the Saturday morning of April 21, 2018. He was blessed to be at his own home, with his family by his side. He is preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Mary Tschida; his first wife, Kathryn (nee Horan) Tschida; his nephew, Mark Douglass; and his sister in law, Susanne Tschida. John is survived by his wife, Linda Manders of White Bear Lake; his children, Tom (Linda) Tschida of Circle Pines, Dan (Therese) Tschida of St. Anthony Village, Mike (Paula Caillier) Tschida of Minneapolis, Jacob (Patty) Gibbs of Hugo, TerriAnn (Steve) Williams of Vadnais Heights, and Ross (Marnie) Gibbs of Fort Myers, FL; his 9 grandchildren and 5 step-grandchildren; his sisters, Barbara (Bob) Evans of White Bear Lake, Mary (Dave) Servis of Outing, and Marge Tschida of White Bear Lake; his brother, Martin Tschida of New Jersey; and many other family and friends. There will be a gathering for John’s family and friends from 4:00-8:00 PM on Monday, April 30, 2018 at Mueller Memorial, 4738 Bald Eagle Avenue, White Bear Lake. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 12PM (noon) on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church, 4741 Bald Eagle Avenue, White Bear Lake, with the second visitation from 11AM-12PM. The luncheon will follow Mass at the Parish Life Center and John’s interment will be at a later date, for family only. In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to St. Mary of the Lake or the Jesuit Retreat House, 8243 Demontreville Tr N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042. We are especially thankful for John’s HealthEast Hospice Team: Jessica, Carla and Diana. OBITUARY NOTICE John M. Tschida, 76, of White Bear Lake Passed away peacefully after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was our beloved husband, father, brother, grandpa and friend, he was founder and CEO of Total Export, Inc., an avid outdoorsman and a man of deep faith. Preceded in death by his first wife, Kathryn (Horan); parents, Martin and Mary; nephew, Mark Douglass; and sister in law, Susanne Tschida. He is survived by his wife of 41 years Linda (Manders); sons, Thomas (Linda), Daniel (Therese), Michael (Paula Caillier), Jacob Gibbs (Patty), Ross Gibbs (Marnie); daughter, TerriAnn Williams (Steve). He is also survived by brother, Martin Tschida and sisters, Barbara Evans (Bob), Mary Servis (Dave) and Margaret; and many other loving relatives and friends. John was grandpa to fourteen and great-grandpa to four. We are especially thankful for John’s HealthEast Hospice Team: Jessica, Carla and Diana. Visitation 4-8 pm Monday, April 30, at Mueller Memorial, 4738 Bald Eagle Ave. at 3rd St. in WBL. Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday, noon with visitation 1 hour prior at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church, 4741 Bald Eagle Ave., White Bear Lake, MN 55110. Private burial. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred to St. Mary of the Lake or the Jesuit Retreat House, 8243 Demontreville Tr N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042.