Tree planted in memory of Opportunities, Inc., newsletter editor

By Chris Spangler 

Faith Community Church recently planted a tri-color beech tree in memory of John Tschohl, a longtime member who passed away Dec. 31, 2022.

Tschohl, 73, was born with cerebral palsy, but never let his physical or language challenges discourage him. In 1968, he started working at Opportunities Inc. in Fort Atkinson and in 1971, he was promoted to editor of its newsletter, “Opp.Ink.”

He retired in 2020 after nearly a half-century in that position.

Faith Community Church faith nurse Shirley Brown shared some memories about Tschohl.

She said that when Tschohl was 17½ years old, he typed the following note on his “adapted” computer:

“This morning on the way over, I noticed a young man on Robert Street mowing the lawn. As he pushed along, his feet we in (sic) and his body sort of bent over the mower. I think he fell once. This led me to the fact that he might be a little like me. If so, I would like to meet him and be his friend.”

Brown also noted that one day as Tschohl was riding his three-wheel bicycle, a car full of teenagers rode by and ridiculed him. His response: “I fully expect that there will be many who will be laughing at me all of my life and I am prepared for it. There are only four parties concerned about my condition, with the first two the most important: God, my family, my close friends, my present and future associates. Let the rest of the world laugh!”  

In August 1999, Brown interviewed Tschohl for Faith Community Church’s health ministry newsletter on cerebral palsy. In it, Tschohl wrote:

“I am 49 years old and was born with cerebral palsy. The disability has affected my speech, my walking, balance and hand coordination … The term cerebral palsy refers to a group of chronic disorders that impair a person’s control of how they move. Cerebral refers to the two halves of the brain otherwise known as the two hemispheres of the brain. The palsy is any disorder that affects or impairs control of a person’s body. 

“The condition is not caused by the muscles. For instance, it is caused by damage or bad development of the brain, particularly in the motor areas.  No two fingerprints are alike. The same goes for people with cerebral palsy. No two people are alike … Not all people with CP are greatly affected. Cerebral palsy is not contagious It cannot be cured.”

Brown said that Tschohl had a practical faith that worked every day is his life.

“He trusted in God for what he didn’t understand about his physical condition and looked forward to heaven when he would be able to talk and others would be able to understand him,” she said. “John didn’t think his life was a waste and knew that God had a purpose for his life. He was very appreciative of the things that people did for him.

“John was an inspiration to many and had a great sense of humor. His warm smile and hardy laugh was contagious as he showed how much he loved people. Thanks, John, for your friendship and dedication in serving God through the many challenges that you faced,” she concluded.

Friends remember Tschohl

Meanwhile, several coworkers and friends of Tschohl shared the following memories of him:

Crusita B. said that she met Tschohl in 1977.

“John never allowed his physical and/or language barriers to dominate his abilities. I saw John grow his confidence, I saw him become strong in his convictions and I was a witness to many of firsts in his independent life. I was a witness to his first camping trip, his stay in the hospital, his first time on the beach and his first love. John left us with the gift of compassion, understanding and an appreciation for individuals with disabilities.”

She continued: “John had a saying that few people knew: ‘To live life to the fullest, to never give up and to love everybody.’ John taught me more than I could have ever learned if I had not been a part of his life. He will always have a special place in my heart.”

Ken H. shared his story about advocating for and assisting Tschohl with his initial move from his parents’ home and into his own apartment. 

“The move was a big milestone for John as he sought independence,”  he said, noting that he spent a few nights there, sleeping in a chair as Tschohl got comfortable in his own little place.

He later helped him get set up with an accessible computer and assisted him with getting acclimated to changes in his personal space and to changes that best suited him in becoming independent.

Mark K. met Tschohl in 1973 when he was a senior college student who needed one semester of work experience to receive his social work degree.

“John was working at what Opportunities called the ‘work activity center.’ I had no experience working with disabled people, but I needed the requirement. ‘It’s only one semester,’ I told myself. 

“My task was to teach/help John to ‘assemble link belts,’ which was a staple at Opportunities at that time, difficult, though, even for myself to assemble with good dexterity. Well, my first day working at the activity center meeting John, I was shocked. I couldn’t understand anything he was saying and I’ve never been around a person with John’s disability …

“I really think this was a test rather than an expectation from Opportunities to what kind of student employee I would be. Well, just one semester turned into a nine-year career with Opportunities and an appreciation for John’s courage and sense of humor taking in all that life had to give. I know that my life was enhanced because of that ‘one semester.’” 

Greg S. met Tschohl in 1977 when he worked in the Opportunities print shop and was responsible for printing the monthly newsletter.

“Many a time, I had to send back the newsletter for John to rewrite; he was always patient and would redo the newsletter without complaint,” he said. “I was most impressed by how he wrote and typed the whole newsletter by himself, four pages of various happenings at the plant and of the people that worked there. He was an inspiration to us all; he was kind, and we shared many laughs during our time together.”

Gail R. said that she often passed Tschohl’s office, where he was diligently working on “Opp.Ink.”

“I would notice John deep into his typing, but he would glance up from his work as I would pass. He would smile that smile that warmed a person’s heart,” she recalled. “I stopped one day and asked him why John was always smiling, and his answer came as no surprise. He replied, ‘I smile because I work with good people that make me happy.’

“This touching memory has stayed with me for a long time. He had a laugh that was loud and came out deep from his heart,” she said. “Hard not to become a little happier even after a brief encounter with John.”

Karen D. met Tschohl when she started working at Opportunities as a production supervisor in December 1977, and quickly learned that he was the heart of “Opp.Ink” and of Opportunities as a whole.

“I was introduced to John in a video a few years earlier at a school program for my son, who was in special education, So, when I met him in person, I already knew how special he was. His laugh was infectious, his intelligence and his enthusiasm for life remarkable,” she recalled.

“I never worked directly with John, but while working at Opp. Inc. for 20 years, I had many opportunities to enjoy his company. I and everyone else that has ever met John will never forget him.”

Julie I. said she will fondly remember Tschohl for his radiant, broad smile and his hearty, guttural laughter. 

“He was a man who reminded those that worked with him to focus on an individual’s strength rather than one’s deficits,” she said. “RIP, dear friend.”

Tschohl’s obituary is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/john-tschohl/.