Schilt, John 'Hans'

John “Hans” Schilt, 85, of Monticello, died Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011, at the Monticello Nursing and Rehabilitation Center following a brief illness. Funeral services will be held 11 Friday morning, Jan. 28, at Peace United Church of Christ, Monticello, with interment in Oakwood Cemetery, with military honors. Friends may call from 3 until 8 p.m. today at Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello.

Surviving are two children, Randy (Irene) Schilt, Monticello, and Kathy (Gary “Butch”) Pratt, Murfreesboro, Tenn.; five grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Rosie Covington, Monticello.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Rachel; and three sisters, Margaret Steiner, Magdalena Hall and Mary Burrichter.

John William Schilt was born April 14, 1925, in Monticello Iowa, the son of Ulrich and Magdalena (Baumann) Schilt. He attended Castle Grove Township School No. 3. John then started farming with his parents. John served in the United States Army during the Korean War.

John “Hans” Schilt and Rachel Heller Cronbaugh were married Aug. 1, 1956, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. The couple made their home in Monticello, where John operated a milk hauling business. John first hauled canned milk and then moved to bulk milk hauling in 1970. He retired in 1987 and sold the business to his son Randy but continued to drive until 2005.

Rachel preceded him in death in January 2002.

John was a member of Peace United Church of Christ, VFW, and the American Legion.

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