John Curtis Bjelland, M.D.

John Curtis “BJ” Bjelland was born on April 15, 1945 in Hayfield, MN and passed away at the age of 80 on April 16, 2025 in Tucson, AZ. He is survived by his wife Lynn of Marana, AZ; his two daughters, Amy Chan (Keith) of Phoenix, AZ and Melissa (Aaron Archer) of South Orange, NJ; five grandchildren; his brother Andrew (Claire) of Salt Lake City, UT; and the mother of his children and former wife Carol of Tucson, AZ.

BJ was known for his genuine smile, larger-than-life personality, and sharp sense of humor. From a young age, he was driven to succeed, eventually becoming a well-respected radiologist. He played on his high school baseball, football, and basketball teams at Creighton Prep in Omaha, NE while excelling academically. In 1960, BJ proudly played in the legendary game against the team of future Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers, and – as the punter and last line of defense – made the tackle pictured on the cover of Scoreless: Omaha Central, Creighton Prep, and Nebraska's Greatest High School Football Game, thereby preserving a 0-0 tie.

With his keen attention to detail, precision, and high ambition, BJ went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis before completing his internship at Los Angeles County-Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and residency at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in diagnostic radiology. Ultimately, he settled in Tucson, AZ practicing radiology at University Medical Center, while conducting research and teaching medical students at the College of Medicine. Subsequently, he went into private practice as a founding member of Arizona State Radiology, PC and became the director of their mammography center. He and his group served several major hospitals in Southern Arizona including Carondelet St. Mary’s in Tucson, Holy Cross in Nogales, and Mount Graham Regional Medical Center in Safford. During his years in Tucson, he became involved in the local community and contributed to causes in which he believed. Despite his achievements, he was always fair, generous, and thoughtful towards others who helped him along the way. BJ never forgot where he came from and always attributed credit to whom it was due.

Everyone who knew BJ was aware that he was a lifelong sports fan who was especially passionate about the University of Arizona Wildcats. Little gave him greater joy than cheering on his Wildcat basketball and football teams from the stands, feeling the energy of the crowd, and appreciating the strength and skill of the players. Sports were a whole-family affair; he was deeply loyal to his teams and always followed and supported them fervently. 

A man who knew how to have fun, BJ had a penchant for traveling and fine dining. With Lynn, he traversed the globe visiting all of the places he dreamed of seeing as a child. He loved sharing these adventures with her, exploring the world while creating lasting memories. Lynn was by his side for all of this; they were a well-matched pair who knew how to plan, schedule, and best optimize their time together. All those who knew him also benefited from his desire to share knowledge, history, and discovery. BJ regularly sought out opportunities for friends and family to socialize and bond, whether that was touring the sights with his grandchildren, meeting up with his Breakfast Group or Lunch Bunch of esteemed friends, or reveling in a meal at one of his favorite restaurants. Those experiences and memories stay with us, and we reflect upon them now with fondness. Being in BJ’s company was to see all, do all, and have a grand time like no other. 

BJ would be the first to tell you that he lived a life with no regrets that was incredibly fulfilling. He achieved his dreams and goals, even his last one to greet his 80th birthday with warm, loving words shared with him by family and friends. His family wishes to thank those who spent time visiting with him this past year, bringing in his favorite restaurant meals, sharing laughs over humorous stories, and providing him with so much love and support. Your kindness towards BJ and our family means everything. We sincerely appreciate those who cared for him, especially those at Peppi’s House. BJ will be missed, but always will be remembered for his strong spirit, ethical nature, and positive attitude.