John David Schiltz

John David Schiltz, 53, of Morganton, GA, and formerly of Sioux City, passed away on the morning of Saturday, April 30, 2022 from a long fought battle with cancer. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sioux City. The Mass has been recorded and can be viewed at the following link:

https://youtu.be/2tSFVnljN9E

 Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m., with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m., on Friday evening at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. The Vigil Service will be live streamed at the following link: https://youtu.be/BpujT_O9mD4  Online condolences may be directed to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

John was diagnosed with Stage 4 Esophageal cancer in mid-April 2021. He handled treatments like a champion. Jeni always said “He is like an energizer bunny!” He would finish chemo and play softball the next weekend.

John was born on October 8, 1968 in Sioux City, the son of Bernard and Doris Schiltz.
John was raised in Sioux City, IA and was the youngest of five boys. John and his brothers were active in sports from a young age. To this day, John has plaques hanging at East High for Football, Baseball & Wrestling. Sports brought John a lot of great friends that he still considered best friends to this day.

John went on to be a collegiate athlete as a running back at Iowa State. While at ISU, John studied engineering and graduated with his Bachelors degree in May of 1993. Also while at ISU, John and his buddies had some unforgettable times. The stories our family has heard over the last few weeks are slightly jaw dropping yet absolutely hilarious.

John and his wife Jeni went to high school together but did not get together until December of 1989 while both attending Iowa State. Jeni knew from the moment she laid eyes on John in high school that she would marry him someday, and that’s exactly what she did. As Jeni would say, “He was just so handsome”! In 1993 they welcomed their first child into the world, Zachary. Jeni (finally) took John’s last name and the two joined in marriage May 14th, 1994 (28 years ago on the day of John’s service). In 1996 they welcomed their second child, Nicholas, and in 1998 Megan completed their family of five.

John wore the hat for many things in his life, but his absolute favorite title was being called “Dad.” John had a calmness about him and with that he grew undeniable respect from his children and pride that was reciprocated.

In 1997 John put his engineering degree to work at Sioux Tools in Sioux City, IA. Shortly after, Sioux tools was bought out by Snap-On. In 2003, John moved with the company to Murphy, NC, to work at Snap-On’s only power tool plant in the nation. He grew with the company, from the words of Johns coworkers, “John wasn’t just an engineer at Snap-On Tools, he helped make Snap-On Tools what it is today.” John was so extremely humble, no one truly knew how successful he actually was at Snap-On. Hats off to John and his many years of hard work.

John was known for his kindness, generosity and genuine soul. John was very passionate about the game of softball and traveled all over to play. He played his last tournament just 3 weeks before he passed. Some of the greatest friends John had were made on the ball fields. The day John passed, his team, Lighthouse, played in the very field John last played at. They were down by 9 runs in the last inning and already had 2 outs. His team came back and won the, what seemed to be, impossible game. John’s teammates said “John never gave up on us, so we didn’t give up on him.” Lighthouse took home the trophy that weekend with broken hearts, knowing they wouldn’t ever get to play with their good buddy again.

John was also very passionate about fixing things. If it was broke, he’d fix it, and he rarely bought new. That was just the engineer in him. He spent hours in his garage taking apart old Mercedes, making runs to the junk yard for parts, and home hours later to put it all back together like new.

John is survived by his loving wife Jeni (Olson) Schiltz; two wonderful sons, Zachary (Jordan) Schiltz of Sioux City, IA, and Nicholas Schiltz of Murfreesboro, TN; and his beautiful daughter, Megan Schiltz of Fairbanks, AK; his mother, Doris Schiltz; four brothers, Bill (Cheri) Farris, Jeff (Julie) Farris, Rick (Pam) Schiltz, and Greg (Deb) Schiltz; nineteen nieces and nephews; and twelve great nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his Father, Bernard Schiltz.

We will love you always and miss you forever John David! In the last few months of John’s life, he really expressed how we need to show more grace to people in our everyday lives. We pray that you spread grace and kindness with strangers today and the rest of your days. We will miss him always.

John’s family would like to extend a special thanks to Pruitt Hospice, as well as the Cancer Treatment Center of America, for their dedicated work and care for John.

John David Schiltz, 53, of Morganton, GA, and formerly of Sioux City, passed away on the morning of Saturday, April 30, 2022 from a long fought battle with cancer. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at Church of the Nativity in Sioux City. Father Brad Pelzel officiating. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m., with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m., on Friday evening at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Online condolences may be directed to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

John was diagnosed with Stage 4 Esophageal cancer in mid-April 2021. He handled treatments like a champion. Jeni always said “He is like an energizer bunny!” He would finish chemo and play softball the next weekend.

John was born on October 8, 1968 in Sioux City, the son of Bernard and Doris Schiltz. John was raised in Sioux City, IA and was the youngest of five boys. John and his brothers were active in sports from a young age. To this day, John has plaques hanging at East High for Football, Baseball & Wrestling. Sports brought John a lot of great friends that he still considered best friends to this day.

John went on to be a collegiate athlete as a running back at Iowa State. While at ISU, John studied engineering and graduated with his Bachelors degree in May of 1993. Also while at ISU, John and his buddies had some unforgettable times. The stories our family has heard over the last few weeks are slightly jaw dropping yet absolutely hilarious.

John and his wife Jeni went to high school together but did not get together until December of 1989 while both attending Iowa State. Jeni knew from the moment she laid eyes on John in high school that she would marry him someday, and that’s exactly what she did. As Jeni would say, “He was just so handsome”! In 1993 they welcomed their first child into the world, Zachary. Jeni (finally) took John’s last name and the two joined in marriage May 14th, 1994 (28 years ago on the day of John’s service). In 1996 they welcomed their second child, Nicholas, and in 1998 Megan completed their family of five.

John wore the hat for many things in his life, but his absolute favorite title was being called “Dad.” John had a calmness about him and with that he grew undeniable respect from his children and pride that was reciprocated.

In 1997 John put his engineering degree to work at Sioux Tools in Sioux City, IA. Shortly after, Sioux tools was bought out by Snap-On. In 2003, John moved with the company to Murphy, NC, to work at Snap-On’s only power tool plant in the nation. He grew with the company, from the words of Johns coworkers, “John wasn’t just an engineer at Snap-On Tools, he helped make Snap-On Tools what it is today.” John was so extremely humble, no one truly knew how successful he actually was at Snap-On. Hats off to John and his many years of hard work.

John was known for his kindness, generosity and genuine soul. John was very passionate about the game of softball and traveled all over to play. He played his last tournament just 3 weeks before he passed. Some of the greatest friends John had were made on the ball fields. The day John passed, his team, Lighthouse, played in the very field John last played at. They were down by 9 runs in the last inning and already had 2 outs. His team came back and won the, what seemed to be, impossible game. John’s teammates said “John never gave up on us, so we didn’t give up on him.” Lighthouse took home the trophy that weekend with broken hearts, knowing they wouldn’t ever get to play with their good buddy again.

John was also very passionate about fixing things. If it was broke, he’d fix it, and he rarely bought new. That was just the engineer in him. He spent hours in his garage taking apart old Mercedes, making runs to the junk yard for parts, and home hours later to put it all back together like new.

John is survived by his loving wife Jeni (Olson) Schiltz; two wonderful sons, Zachary (Jordan) Schiltz of Sioux City, IA, and Nicholas Schiltz of Murfreesboro, TN; and his beautiful daughter, Megan Schiltz of Fairbanks, AK; his mother, Doris Schiltz; four brothers, Bill (Cheri) Farris, Jeff (Julie) Farris, Rick (Pam) Schiltz, and Greg (Deb) Schiltz; nineteen nieces and nephews; and twelve great nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his Father, Bernard Schiltz.

We will love you always and miss you forever John David! In the last few months of John’s life, he really expressed how we need to show more grace to people in our everyday lives. We pray that you spread grace and kindness with strangers today and the rest of your days. We will miss him always.

John’s family would like to extend a special thanks to Pruitt Hospice, as well as the Cancer Treatment Center of America, for their dedicated work and care for John.