Dr. John F. Frost

Dr. John F. Frost, age 79, went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 26, 2024 in Oconomowoc. He was born July 24, 1944, in Ashland, to Claydon and Helen (Berg) Frost. He married Sandra Hanson in September, 1968 in Madison.

He attended Ashland schools and graduated from Ashland High School in 1962. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science and from the University of Wisconsin Medical School in 1971. He completed a Residency at Hennepin County General Hospital, Minneapolis, Minn. in 1974.

He entered The Reserve Navy Medical Corps in 1968 as a LTJG, later as a LT. He served 2 years active duty as LCDR July 1974 – June, 1976 at the Naval Regional Medical Center San Diego, Calif. with the additional responsibility of supervising clinical staff from the University of California, San Diego.

He moved to Rhinelander July, 1976 to begin an Internal Medicine practice with the Bump Clinic (later Rhinelander Medical Center and Ministry Healthcare). He served as an Assistant Preceptor and later a Head Preceptor for the University of Wisconsin Medical School, receiving the Max Fox Preceptor Award in June 2007. He retired from Ministry Healthcare in January, 2012 after 35 1/2 years of caring for the Rhinelander and Crandon area communities.

After moving to Oconomowoc in August 2012, he used his medical skills as a volunteer physician caring for the underserved with The Bread of Healing Clinic, Milwaukee and the Lake Area Free Clinic, Oconomowoc, for many years.

His faith was very important to him from a young age when he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in 1953. He served as an Elder, an AWANA Leader and an Adult Sunday School teacher for many years at Wilderness Bible Fellowship (Pine Grove Community Church). He further demonstrated his care for the underserved by going on 17 mission trips to Cherkasy, Ukraine from 1995 – 2018 where he ministered and cared for individuals in private homes and nursing homes as well as in church clinics in the city of Cherkasy and in small rural villages giving much needed medical care and medicines. He grew to love the people of Ukraine and was forever changed by his time with them.

He enjoyed many sports; tennis, biking, kayaking, hiking and pickleball. One of his favorite places was the cabin on Two Sisters Lake where any day was a great day, especially those spent with his children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 55 1/2 years Sandra (Hanson) Frost; his sons Dr Edward (Jessica) Frost, Matthew (Margo) Frost and Dr. Samuel (Jessalyn) Frost; his very much-loved grandchildren Benjamin, Jonathan, Caroline, Sophia, Noland, Max, Emmiline and Oskar Frost, Mattea (Frost) Lightfield and Hannah (Frost) Swarbrick. He is further survived by his brother Thomas (Suzanne) Frost, several nieces, nephews and cousins. 

He was preceded in death by his mother and father.

He was a gentle compassionate healer who enjoyed caring for his patients and he valued his colleagues and the staff of the Rhinelander and Crandon medical communities. One of his colleagues said, “His attributes of faith, humor and intellect were an inspiration for us.” Patients and others who knew him described him as caring and gentle. He will be greatly missed.

The family thanks Becky Lovelace, his Medical Assistant for 23 years, for her partnership with him caring for patients.

A private family burial will be held April 6, 2024. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 11, 2024 at The Gathering Place at Fort Wilderness Ministries, McNaughton. Visitation will be from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., with the memorial service to follow at 1:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials may be sent to the following: Lake Area Free Clinic Oconomowoc, Milwaukee Rescue Mission or Safe Families For Children – Milwaukee. 

You may leave your private condolences for the Frost family at www.carlsonfh.com. 

The Carlson Funeral Home (715-369-1414) is serving the Frost family.

“To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always” (Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau)