Dr. Richard Trefzger

Dr. Richard C. Trefzger, M.D., F.A.C.S., 64, of Bloomington, Ill. died at 5:45 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012 at home after a long and courageous battle with metastatic prostate cancer.

His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday Nov. 20 at First Christian Church, Bloomington, Ill., with the Rev. Dr. James Warren and the Rev. Michael Fitch officiating. Burial will be at Funks Grove Cemetery, rural McLean, Ill. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday Nov. 19 at First Christian Church. The Calvert & Metzler

Memorial Home, Bloomington is in charge of arrangements. 

Memorials may be made to First Christian Church of Bloomington, Ill., or the Community Cancer Center of Normal, Ill.

Richard was born in Peoria, Ill. on Jan. 27, 1948, the eldest son of The Rev. Dr. John D. Trefzger and Marilyn Wilson Trefzger. Richard married Nancy Guy of Bloomington in the First Christian Church of Bloomington on Dec. 19, 1971. She survives. 

Also surviving are their children: Emily Campos of Bloomington, and Michael Trefzger of Hollywood, CA. Richard and Nancy have five grandchildren: Sabrina, Charlie, Octavio, Julian, and Alan Campos, all living in the Bloomington-Normal community. Richard is also survived by his father, John D. Trefzger, Bloomington, and two brothers: James (Dorothy) Trefzger of Champaign, and Robert (Connie) Trefzger of Bloomington. His mother, Marilyn Trefzger, preceded him in death.

In his youth, Richard attended public schools in Waukegan, Ill., then in Bloomington starting in 1958. During high school, Richard was an outstanding scholar-athlete, playing football and basketball, and running distance in both track and cross-country. He was the Captain of Bloomington High School’s first cross country team during the Fall of 1965, and several decades later, he competed in the Boston Marathon. Richard was honored with the DAR’s Citizenship Award, and graduated from BHS as its Valedictorian in 1966. 

Richard attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, graduating in 1970 with a degree in Biology. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Illinois in 1973 after studying two years at each of the Chicago and Peoria campuses. Dr. Trefzger accepted a two year general surgical residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, and then a three year surgical residency at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke Medical Center in Chicago, finishing in 1978. Dr. Trefzger was honored as the Outstanding Senior Resident at Rush. 

Dr. Trefzger returned to the Bloomington-Normal community to practice general surgery in July of 1978. He was a Board-Certified surgeon, and a partner in the Surgical Associates of Bloomington, retiring from active medical practice in 2009. Throughout his career, Dr. Trefzger earned a reputation for excellence in both the technical aspects of practicing surgical medicine, as well as in personal care and communication with patients and their families. 

Dr. Trefzger also was seen as a leader in his profession. He was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and was the president of the Illinois Surgical Society from 2000-2001, also serving many years as a Trustee and on its Board of Governors. He also served as Councilor of the Illinois Chapter of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Trefzger served several years as President of Medical Staff, Chief of Surgery, and Trauma Center Medical Director separately for both local hospitals. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Community Cancer Center, and was its President for two years. Dr. Trefzger also had a teaching appointment with the University of Illinois College of Medicine as a Clinical Instructor of Surgery. In this capacity, he taught and mentored many medical students who will continue to serve future generations as doctors and surgeons.

Dr. Trefzger was a participating member of many professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, American College of Surgeons, Illinois Surgical Society, Illinois State Medical Society, Mclean County Medical Society, American Medical Athletic Association, and the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. He was also a member of several honorary scholastic organizations including Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi, and Alpha Omega Alpha - a noted medical honor society. 

Dr. Trefzger was also very active in community life. He was a long time Rotarian, served a term as President of Bloomington Rotary Club, and was designated a Paul Harris Fellow in 1989. Richard was a life member of Arts and Crafts Masonic Lodge of Bloomington #1017, and later affiliated with Bloomington Lodge #43. He was also a life member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Bloomington. Dr. Trefzger was a member of the Russian Sister City Association, and traveled to Vladimir, Russia on behalf of our community as part of a civic, professional, and cultural exchange and served on mission trips to Haiti and Mexico.

Dr. Trefzger loved music. He enjoyed playing the saxophone, and had been a member of the Bloomington Municipal Band, as well as more recently, the Danvers Community Band. Dr. Trefzger also sang in the Illinois State University Civic Chorale for ten years.

Dr. Trefzger was a committed Christian. He was a member of First Christian Church, Bloomington for over 50 years, serving as an Elder and leading or participating in its many committees, musical groups, and ministries. After his retirement from medical practice, Dr. Trefzger became a licensed minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and served First Christian Church Bloomington, IL as a Pastoral Assistant. Dr. Trefzger was also engaged in the Christian mission field, and was a participant in medical and housing missions to Haiti and Mexico. He was actively involved in the Cursillo in Christianity movement, and locally served as a Rector in 2001.

Richard loved his family very deeply, and treasured the time he spent with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his family, his friends, his church, his community, and all who experienced his healing touch. 

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