Dr. Troy E. Rhodes (1970-2022)

RHODES, KRAMER, MCKINNON, STEPHENSON

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 7/13/2022 at 15:34:03

Dr. Troy E. Rhodes, 51, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in Wisconsin. A memorial visitation will be held Sunday, July 17 from 1:00 p.m. until time of memorial service, 4:00 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Chapel Stateroom, 4200 First Avenue, NE, Cedar Rapids, IA. Troy was born on December 25, 1970, in Norfolk, Virginia, to Ed and Elois Rhodes. He was the eldest of his two siblings. Troy was a distinguished Cardiologist for the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, which he had recently joined in March 2022. In his short time at the University of Wisconsin, he was a Visiting Professor and the Director of the Lead Management Program. Prior to his time in Wisconsin, he worked for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics as an Associate Professor, specializing in complex implantation, extraction, and management of cardiac devices. Troy received his MD from Eastern Virginia Medical School and his Ph.D. also from Eastern Virginia Medical School and Old Dominion University. Troy was a devoted son, brother, husband, and father to four beautiful children. He was happiest while chasing down the children, using his Traeger smoker on the weekends, and making his wife feel loved and cherished each day. He was eager to share his love of all things Star Wars and Harry Potter with all he knew. After his family, his next love included his patients and co-workers. He worked tirelessly each day to give his patients excellent, efficient, and personalized care. He was able to perform challenging procedures with a level of intellect and calm focus that afforded his patients comfort in their most vulnerable moments. He treated his patients like family and was the brilliant and conscientious physician we would all be fortunate to know. He was always ready with a one-liner to bring a laugh and smile to those he interacted with. His co-workers felt valued, and he never shied away from an opportunity to help those in need; he was a true leader. His career was devoted to research to improve patient care, the effectiveness and safety of cardiac devices, and training clinical cardiac electrophysiology fellows, cardiology fellows and internal medicine residents. Recognizing his dedication to education, Troy was chosen as Associate Program Director of the Electrophysiology Fellowship at UW Madison. Some of his proudest moments of his career were when former fellows called or texted to let him know they successfully performed their first procedure as an attending or when they had a challenging moment in a case, and they remembered a tip he had shared with them. While he was short on words, he made them count, always ready to drop his quick wit to poke fun and lighten the mood. Left to cherish his memory include his wife, Katie McKinnon, and their children, Greenley, Kellyn, Addison, and Oliver, currently of Fitchburg, WI, his parents, Ed and Elois Rhodes of Norfolk, Virginia, his brothers, Kent (Michelle) Rhodes of Norfolk, Virginia, Matt (Jess) Rhodes of Winchester, Virginia, parents-in-law Vance and Susan McKinnon, sister-in-law RaeAnnon (Chad) Kramer, brother-in-law Austin (Adam) Stephenson, brother-in-law Zach (Beth) Fairlie, sister-in-law Heather (Austin) Trotter, 3 nieces, 4 nephews, and many more beloved family members. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Harold Edward Rhodes, Margaret Britt Rhodes, Troy Edgar Dixon, and Myrtle Elois Tyus. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations in remembrance of Troy’s life be directed to a memorial fund established through https://gofund.me/bc756774. Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.