Jonathan “John” Hiljus, age 37, of Isanti passed away October 8, 2007 at Hennepin County Medical Center. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, October 16th at Strike Funeral Home – Isanti Chapel with Rev. Norm Norland officiating. A visitation will be held from 4-8 P.M. on Monday, October 15th as well as 1 hour prior to the funeral Tuesday at our Isanti Chapel.
Jonathan “John” Hiljus was born January 8, 1970 at Cambridge, Minnesota to Gerald Andrew and Sandra Lee Hiljus. They resided in Isanti and John went to school in Isanti and Cambridge. Later Sandra married Loren Reichel and they lived in Isanti and later moved to Mora and owned Festival Foods. They resided in Brunswick Township. John attended Mora High School and worked at Hardees and Festival Foods. Later he was employed at Grand Casino in Hinckley. The past several years he was a volunteer at Grandview Christian Home. John had a big heart and really loved older people. He also loved sports and collecting ball cards. He was a very loving and generous person and had many friends. He will be dearly missed. John donated all his organs to LifeSource and helped a lot of people live.
John will be remembered by his mother, Sandy Larson (step-dad, Russ) of Mora; three brothers, Brian Hiljus of North Branch, David (Monica) Reichel of Port Orchard, Washington, and Douglas Reichel (Amanda Thayer) of Mora; father, Gerald Hiljus of Minneapolis; grandpa, Ray Lodin, great-grandma, Viola Reichel, also by many uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces, and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his step-father Loren Reichel, grandma Juanieta Lodin, grandma Fern Hiljus, grandma Lorraine Reichel, grandpa Roy Hiljus and grandpa Lloyd Reichel.
Dear Sandy,
I am so sorry to hear about your son John. Please know that my prayers are with you and your family.
Love Your Cousin Diane
John will be sadly missed I grew up knowing him in Mora then he came to work at Grandview where I also was working. He was a very caring person and would do anything for anyone when they needed him. And he always had a smile on his face even if he was having a bad day. He could make anyone smile and laugh! My prayers are with him and his family.
Dear Sandy My heart goes out to your family,John was so caring I enjoyed working with him,I’m going to miss seeing him around and laughing with him,we had so many good times dressing up at the nursing home the residents enjoyed it as much as i did, We enjoyed John coming over to our home,Just sitting around and talking with us,We will sadly miss John,
Greta Freeman & Family
I worked with John the w/e before he passed away – I say “worked” because that is what he did when he volunteered. He would make breakfast for the residents on my station OEW (all ladies; who loved him), then he would help the nursing staff by cleaning up the breakfast dishes and bringing all of the dietary carts down to the kitchen. He also helped out on the other 4 stations, so he really was a godsend to all of us. He kept this up all day. I think back now, and wish that I would have thanked him and told him how much I appreciated him, more often. He was such a sweet person and fun to be around. When John was there, we knew we could depend on him to help us. I am truly sorry for your loss, and share in your sorrow. I will never forget John,he touched the lives of many people and brightened our day-I speak for staff and residents on OEW.
Doug,
Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your entire family. Though we never met John, by reading the other guestbook entries it sounds like your brother was truly a blessing to all who knew him. We pray that the many wonderful memories of your brother will bring solace to you in the days to come.
John & Amy Armstrong
Armstrong Roofing & Construction
we are so sorry he is in our prays
I am sorry to hear about John. I met John when he was living in Mora, with my mother and brother. He was a great guy and a lot of fun to be around. I don’t recall ever seeing him with out a smile on his face. He touched the lives of everyone around him and we should all be blessed he was a part of our lives.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time.