John Schilz

John Schilz, age 68, died on January 4th, 2025.  Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic Church in Belle Plaine.  Fr. Michael Kaluza will officiate.  Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Friday at the Kolden Funeral Home in Belle Plaine and continue one hour prior to the Mass at church on Saturday morning.  Interment will be in Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery followed by lunch in the church social hall.

John Anthony Schilz III was born on May 21st, 1956.  John was born to Robert and Dolores (Longen) Schilz in New Prague Minnesota.  John grew up in Belle Plaine and graduated from Chaska High School in 1974. John continued his education earning his boiler and chauffeurs license. He worked extremely hard all of his life at Certainteed, Conagra Foods, Worley Logistics, and Fairway Foods mostly operating forklifts. John raised two children as a single father: son John Anthony Schilz IV and daughter Catherine Dolores Schilz. John was a recovering alcoholic with 29+ years of sobriety. John fought a hard fight that many would not understand or even know because he would never complain and always make light of all situations.  His humor kept him going and he would tell you that “laughter is the best medicine.”  John resided in Winthrop Mn where he took in a stray cat he named Kittle. John touched so many hearts, and he was a great friend to all, old and new.  John loved hunting, fishing, football, grilling, gardening, listening to music, cooking, gambling, old cars, and motorcycles.  John is a HERO and will be dearly missed by all who love him.  John is preceded in death by his father and mother.  He is survived by his brother Bob, son John, daughter Catherine, future son in law Nate, Nieces: Sarah and Rachel, Cat: Kittle, and Grand Cats: Tail-O, Itsy-Bitsy, and Ms. Patchy-Colidoscopy, as well as so many more friends and family.