John Harold Skluzacek

John Harold Skluzacek of Pine City passed away peacefully Thursday, January 10, 2019 at First Light Hospital in Mora, Minnesota at the age 85 surrounded by his wife and family.

John was born May 28, 1933 to Ludwig (Louis) and Christine (Shambauer) Skluzacek in Rock Creek, Minnesota. He graduated from Pine City High School in 1951. He enlisted with Minnesota National Guard and transferred to the United States Army to serve in Korea. He remained active in the National Guard for 33 years. He began working for Pine City Co-op. On a blind date he met his future wife Carol. They married on April 19, 1956 and made their home in Pine City. John started working for the City of Pine City in 1964 and worked there until he retired 32 years later.

John was a lifetime member of the Immaculate Conception Church. John became a member of the Pine City Fire Department in 1957 and served as fire chief from 1970 until he retired in 1983 (though he continued to show up for fire calls). He was a member of the Pine County Agricultural Society (Fair Board) for over 40 years, Minnesota Federation of County Fairs, and as a write in candidate was elected to the Pine City School Board, Pine City Senior Center Board, VFW member and past commander, American Legion, Rural School Board, President of Pine City Estates Board of Directors for the past 10 years (as well as caretaker maintenance person for 21 years), in 1999 was chosen as Pine City Citizen of the Year, and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

John was a hard-working man, adoring husband, devoted father, and an active member of the Pine City Community. He loved fishing, gardening, hunting, bowling, traveling (as long as it was not by plane or ship), and his greatest joy in life was his wife and family. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.

John is survived by his loving wife Carol of Pine City; children Teresa (Larry) Russell of Mound City, Missouri, Susan (Gary) Valvoda of Pine City, Joseph (Amy) Skluzacek of Saginaw, Karen (Paul) Wondra of St. Croix Falls, Laura Skluzacek of Princeton, Jason (Julie) Skluzacek of Pine City; 12 grandchildren; 5 step-grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sister Magdalene “Maggie” Carlson of Columbia Heights; brother Leo Skluzacek of Pine City. 

John is preceded in death by his parents Ludwig & Christine Skluzacek; sister Cecelia (Wendal) Carlson; infant sister Alice Marie; brother-in-law Waldo Carlson; sister-in-law Lucille Skluzacek.

Monsignor Aleksander Suchan will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial for John: 10:30 AM; Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Pine City.  A time of visitation and reviewal is planned from 4-7 PM Monday evening (1/14/19) with a Rosary at 7 PM all at the Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City and also one hour prior to the Mass in the St. Anthony Commons area at the church.  The interment with Military Honors will take place at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Pine City.

Memorials may be designated to: Pine City Senior Center/Pine City Rural School.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to: Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City, Swanson Chapel.

FuneralAndCremationService.com