Dr. Dr. John Ladwig

Dr. John William Ladwig passed peacefully surrounded by his wife and children on October 24, 2017.

Dr. Ladwig was born on June 7, 1947, in Carroll, Iowa to Dr. Vaylord and Marjorie (McLaughlin) Ladwig. He graduated from Sac City High School in 1965 as class valedictorian. He completed undergraduate studies in Chemistry at Iowa State University, graduating at the top of his class in 1969.

As a medical student, John met his wife of 47 years, Carol (Ferguson). They married on October 3, 1970 in West Concord, Minnesota. He graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1972. He completed a medical internship at Cincinnati General Hospital in 1973 and his Internal Medicine residency at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis in 1976. John then completed a Clinical Cardiology fellowship at the University of Minnesota in 1977.

He settled in Moorhead, Minnesota and initially practiced at St Ansgar Hospital in Moorhead. Later, John practiced at St. Luke’s Hospital, Fargo Clinic, MeritCare and Sanford Health Systems. He joined the south Moorhead Clinic as a primary care physician in 1984, retiring from clinic practice in June 2017. Dr. Ladwig became board certified in Geriatric Medicine in 1990. He was medical director of Eventide Lutheran Homes, 1991 to present, and Villa Maria, 2012 to present. He was medical director of the MeritCare Health System Transitional Care Unit from 1997 to 2007. Starting in 2002, he educated aspiring medical practitioners as a Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine with the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

John was an avid reader and lover of history. He had a passion for fishing in any form, resulting in numerous trophy fish. John enjoyed cheering for North Dakota State athletics and traveling to new places. He was active in the community through Boy Scout Troop 638, FM Walleyes Incorporated and served on the Board of Directors for both Hospice of the Red River Valley and the Red River Valley Figure Skating Club. His proudest achievements were his children; Todd, a Commander in the United States Navy, Mark, an olympic pairs figure skater, and daughter Erin, a general dentist.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Carol, of Moorhead; children, Todd (Stacy), Mt. Vernon, WA, Mark (Janet), Parrish, FL, and Erin (Dan) Paluchowski, Arnold, MD; his mother, Marjorie, Eventide Lutheran Homes; and siblings Nancy Milton, Des Moines, IA, and Tom (Diane) of Sioux City, IA. He will also be fondly remembered by his four grandchildren, Holden, Felix, Anna and Isaac. John was preceded in death by his father Vaylord, and sister Janet Lucien.

Visitation will be October 27 from 5-7pm, with prayer service at 6 pm, at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead.
Funeral service will be Saturday October 28, 2017 at 1:00 pm at Grace United Methodist Church, Moorhead.
Interment will be Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Moorhead.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Eventide Foundation at 2405 8th Street South, Suite A, Moorhead.