John Jacob Zillhardt

John Jacob Zillhardt, age 83 of Andover, passed away peacefully on December 3, 2022, at the JA Wedum Hospice. He will be deeply missed by his loving wife of 43 years, Jo; children, Colonel John R. (Dr. Brie) Zillhardt, Dr. Marion R. (Trish) Curtis, and Jacob D. Zillhardt; grandchildren, Eli, Finley, and Hannah Zillhardt, Knox, Jax, and Max Curtis; sister, Janet (Tor) Asphaug of Brekkesto, Norway, sister-in-law, Nancy Ralston (Chris Collins), Escondido, CA, and nephew Sean Stanley, Orlando, FL. John was born in Boston while his father Jacob Charles Zillhardt, MD, was completing a cardiology fellowship at Johns Hopkins. John's mother was Frances Lillian Reglin, and he was welcomed by his older sister Janet. They made their home in Binghamton, New York. John's mother died of breast cancer when he was 12. His father was remarried to Martha Anne Woodrum of Roanoke, Virginia. John was a graduate of the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He began his college studies at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. John interrupted his studies to enlist in the US Army where he served a bit longer than his original enlistment due to the Korean War. John enjoyed his adventures with the Cornell University Outing Club and camping and hiking with his Army buddies while stationed in Virginia. John moved to Minnesota with the intent to purchase land near what became the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. He lived and worked near the Eagles Nest Lakes and Ely. He found his little piece of wilderness at Eagles Nest Lake 4 where he built a simple cedar cabin. Canoeing and hiking were his activities of choice. John made his living surveying and painting. He decided to continue his education at Bemidji State University where he earned a BA in education and later a Master's degree. He taught science and shop in Marshall, Minnesota, and was a substitute teacher in the Minneapolis Public Schools. He was a ham radio operator. Fearing he was not earning enough money to support a family, he gained additional training in order to become a cash machine serviceman for TRW. John was introduced to Jo by dear friends Jean and Bob Stow and Marion and Carl Peters at the White Bear Unitarian church. John purchased a house on Round Lake in Andover and married Jo in 1979. They continued their membership at the While Bear Unitarian church until after the birth of their eldest son John Robert. They joined the First Congregational Church in Anoka, where John volunteered many years as a Sunday School teacher, while his family grew to include Marion and Jacob. With the help of the Minneapolis VA Rheumatology clinic, John fought rheumatoid arthritis for 36 years. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the JA Wedum Hospice. A memorial service celebrating John's life will be held December 19 at 11am with visitation at 10am at Washburn-McReavy Coon Rapids Chapel, 1827 Coon Rapids Blvd. NW. Private interment Minnesota State Veteran's Cemetery, Little Falls. "The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love." - William Wordsworth

Tributes

John Jacob Zillhardt

April 12, 1939 - December 3, 2022

Tributes

John Jacob Zillhardt

April 12, 1939 - December 3, 2022

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