John Thomas Chilson

John Thomas Chilson, age 57 of Hastings, died peacefully at home on Friday evening, July 14, 2017, after a long challenge with metastatic prostate cancer into the bones and liver. John Thomas was born December 18, 1959, the son of Eli John Chilson, Jr. and Leona (Pechacek) Chilson in Hastings, MN, where he also graduated high school with the class of 1978. Prior to graduation, at the age of 17, John enlisted on August 29, 1977, into the US Army, Minnesota Army National Guard, into Company B, then the 147th Signal Battalion, 47th Infantry Division (now the 34th Infantry Division), located here in Hastings. John was a Signal Communications System Operator. He became an active duty Soldier for various assignments within the Division and Headquarters State Area Command. John served twenty years active duty service and a total of twenty eight years in service, including his reserve/weekend years in service. After his military retirement, he was hired as the Logistics Coordinator at Shield Technologies in Eagan, MN, and loved the company of the people he worked with. The business sells their product to the units in the Department of Defense globally, and this was familiar and comfortable for John. He also enjoyed the continuance of service to the Armed Forces in a new and different (civilized) way. John married Lynette Ann (Grams) Chilson on April 30, 1983. She later tragically passed away and went to heaven on August 1, 1987, leaving John to love and care for their daughter, Jennifer Ann Chilson. John later met and married Ann Lydia (Manthe) Chilson on the Schatze Paddleboat, Port of Red Wing, MN, with Pastor Percy Damrow officiating. They were married on October 8, 1994, and of course with Jennifer present for the wedding, they added three siblings, Zachary James Chilson, Logan Adam Chilson, and Emily Leah Chilson. Jennifer married Garett James Twigg on June 27, 2015, with Ann officiating. Johns kids were his whole world and always made them his first priority and greatest joy; he was a wonderful father. John loved spending time fishing and boating with family and friends at his cabin (Spruce Hideaway) up north. He even kept loon calls on a special app on his phone to use during the off season winter months. He enjoyed sports (though in later years more as a spectator) as well as being part of several military based fantasy football and baseball leagues. John enjoyed the camaraderie of staying in touch through the leagues with Army friends after his retirement. He also enjoyed bowling in the years after Lynette passed, and has, since high school, enjoyed the monthly poker nights with his high school friends. He loved supporting all the kids and their endeavors and sports teams, especially hockey and lacrosse, and the many family get-togethers that came as a result. John was a life-long member of the Minnesota Enlisted Association, the American Legion, and a big supporter of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), Wounded Warriors Foundation, and the Alzheimers Association. John was preceded in death by his first wife, Lynette; his father, Eli "Chub" Chilson, Jr.; his mother and father-in-law, Paul Albert Grams and Irene Mildred (Otto) Grams; his father-in-law, Dale Lewis Manthe, brothers-in-law, Garth Truax, Tom Grams, Gary Siebert, Mike Warner; his beloved grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins; and most recently by his Uncle Bud, RIP. John is survived by his wife, Ann Lydia Manthe Chilson of Hastings; his four children and one son-in-law, Jennifer Ann Chilson (Garett James Twigg) of West Allis, WI, Zachary James Chilson of Kenosha, WI, Logan Adam Chilson of Hastings, and Emily Leah Chilson of Hastings. We also note Brian William Burr who stayed with the family in high school, and a dear sweet friend of Logans, Shelby Wassink. He is also survived by his mother, Leona (Pechacek) Chilson of Hastings; his siblings, Lynne Siebert of Grand Rapids, MN, Karen Warner of Hastings, Roger (Judee) Chilson of Broken Arrow, OK, Mary (Gary) Riveness of Hastings, Cyndy (Matt) Finger of Saybrook, WA, Donna Chilson of Alexandria, VA, and Elaine (John) Klimek of Hastings; his brothers-in-law, Craig (Lynn) Grams of Glennallen, AK, and Tim Grams of Anchorage, AK; his mother-in-law, Janet (Riebe) Manthe; his siblings-in-law, Jeffrey (Christine) Manthe of Avon, MN, Julie (Kris) Hunt of New Prague, Lori (Kurt) Manthe Hogenson of Spring Park, Karen (Tom) Hogan of Richfield, and Amy (Scott) Winters of Belle Plaine; his nieces and nephews whom he loved tremendously, Trevor Brian Grams, Frank (Lysa) Charles Claudia, Julie (Wayne) Wilde Ben, Justin and Lexi, Michelle (Scott) Nelson Victoria, Ryan, Anders, and Graham, Nicki (Blake) Batty, Kristin Warner Blake, Kylee and Braden, Jake (Stephanie) Warner, Alex and Andy Riveness, Katie (Matt) Warne Thomas, Hailey Chilson, Nathan and Macy Finger, Tara Ames and Sam Truax, Jordan and Mackenzie Klimek, Neil (Stacy) Manthe, Molly (Tommy) Linn, Luke and Callie Manthe (Erik), Kennan Hunt (Emily), Anja, Kelsey, and Collin Hogan, Erin and Jacob Winter; all twenty eight nieces and nephews, we love our family gatherings! Johns legacy and his loyalty and faithfulness to God, Country, The Armed Forces, and all organizations that supported service members and Veterans; to his family, his many friends from high school, his childrens friends and their parents, his military friends, his friends from work and church. If you were a friend, you were his friend forever, and there wasnt a thing he wouldnt do for you. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, July 20, 2017, at St. Johns Ev. Lutheran Church in Hastings, with Reverend Jason Thiel and Reverend Jon Zimpelmann officiating. Interment with Military Honors provided by the Hastings VFW Lyle Russell Post 1210, will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Cemetery in Hastings. Visitation will be held 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at Caturia-Smidt Funeral Home Cremation Services of Hastings, and will continue at church on Thursday morning from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Arrangements are being completed by Caturia-Smidt Funeral Home Cremation Services of Hastings.