Jack Tschida, age 79, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 22, 2026, in Woodbury, Minnesota. Born on June 27, 1946, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Jack lived a life rooted in family, faith, friendship, and service.
Jack is survived by Kathy, his loving wife of 60 years; children John (Rachel) Tschida, Lisa (Paul) O'Neill, Joe (Tracy) Tschida, Katie (Aaron) Molstad, and Mike (Vale) Tschida; and 14 grandchildren; siblings Bob (Nancy) Tschida and Steve Tschida; sisters Mary Kay (Taylor), Nancy (Tom) Glennon, and Sharon (Bob) Cardinal.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lorraine; brother Jerry (Alare) Tschida; sister JoAnn (Lang) Tschida; brothers-in-law George Taylor and Jack Lang.
Jack's life was defined by quiet acts of service. Inspired by one of his favorite quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is...What are you doing for others?" This took him to the Red Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota and to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He lent his skills to those in need close to home as well—revamping ductwork for a young immigrant couple who couldn't afford it and serving as a legal guardian for a disabled veteran he visited regularly for years.
He never spoke about these acts of kindness. That wasn't his style. He just did them, Jack led by example—living his faith through action rather than words.
Each morning began at the kitchen table with a cup of black coffee, his Bible, and his daily meditation book. Even when pancreatic cancer stole his taste for coffee in recent months, the ritual of prayer remained constant until his final days. Music was another expression of Jack's faith and love. A guitarist, he played at Spanish-language Masses at St. Therese Church and brought joy to nursing home residents across northwest Wisconsin as part of the Soggy Bottom Boys Band.
Jack found joy in life's simple pleasures: a campfire singalong lakeside with him leading on guitar; the joyful chaos of Christmas celebrations; a raucous game of Texas hold 'em; or a cross-country road trip set to his favorite bluegrass playlist. Fishing was one of Jack's lifelong passions—beginning with childhood summers at Coon Lake with a can pole alongside siblings and cousins. As an adult, he cherished fly-in Canadian adventures and fishing openers in both Minnesota and Wisconsin with lifelong friends. He started his children young and would later do the same for his 14 grandchildren; spending hours in the boat with him, it was never really about the fishing (for any of us).
A proud sheet metal worker, Jack was a member of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) Workers Local #10 in Saint Paul. He treasured his union friendships, and especially the annual Labor Day booyas at the Highland Park pavilion—an opportunity to share old stories and laughter while taking home buckets of booya for the family. Even as his health declined, Jack continued attending monthly luncheons with his union friends.
Jack was always present—for school and sporting events, family vacations, fall weekends up north or lake time in Minnesota or Wisconsin, and countless live music concerts. He always made time for those he loved.
Those who knew Jack will remember him as kind and selfless. He was a man whose endearing humor could put anyone at ease. We all know that laugh as the loudest that would fill the room. Or the quiet version where his shoulders just shook.
Jack raised five kids with a strong foundation of faith, compassion, and humility to build their lives and families upon. His 14 grandchildren will surely carry on these values. He made a profound and lasting impact on all the lives he touched.
While he will be deeply missed, we know in some corner of heaven, he's in a guitar circle with Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, and his other rock n' roll heroes, saying they ought to play Muleskinner Blues the way he and Tom Klinger always did.
A Visitation will be held on January 29, 2026, at 10:00 AM Central Time at Guardian Angels Catholic Church 8260 4th Street North in Oakdale. Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:00 AM. Please join us immediately following for a light lunch in the reception hall.
For those unable to join in person, the service will be livestreamed at: https://www.guardian-angels.org/small-event-livestream/
Memorials preferred to Saint Mary's Mission, Red Lake Reservation, 15341 Saint Mary's Mission Road, Red Lake, MN 56671
Jack is survived by Kathy, his loving wife of 60 years; children John (Rachel) Tschida, Lisa (Paul) O'Neill, Joe (Tracy) Tschida, Katie (Aaron) Molstad, and Mike (Vale) Tschida; and 14 grandchildren; siblings Bob (Nancy) Tschida and Steve Tschida; sisters Mary Kay (Taylor), Nancy (Tom) Glennon, and Sharon (Bob) Cardinal.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lorraine; brother Jerry (Alare) Tschida; sister JoAnn (Lang) Tschida; brothers-in-law George Taylor and Jack Lang.
Jack's life was defined by quiet acts of service. Inspired by one of his favorite quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is...What are you doing for others?" This took him to the Red Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota and to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He lent his skills to those in need close to home as well—revamping ductwork for a young immigrant couple who couldn't afford it and serving as a legal guardian for a disabled veteran he visited regularly for years.
He never spoke about these acts of kindness. That wasn't his style. He just did them, Jack led by example—living his faith through action rather than words.
Each morning began at the kitchen table with a cup of black coffee, his Bible, and his daily meditation book. Even when pancreatic cancer stole his taste for coffee in recent months, the ritual of prayer remained constant until his final days. Music was another expression of Jack's faith and love. A guitarist, he played at Spanish-language Masses at St. Therese Church and brought joy to nursing home residents across northwest Wisconsin as part of the Soggy Bottom Boys Band.
Jack found joy in life's simple pleasures: a campfire singalong lakeside with him leading on guitar; the joyful chaos of Christmas celebrations; a raucous game of Texas hold 'em; or a cross-country road trip set to his favorite bluegrass playlist. Fishing was one of Jack's lifelong passions—beginning with childhood summers at Coon Lake with a can pole alongside siblings and cousins. As an adult, he cherished fly-in Canadian adventures and fishing openers in both Minnesota and Wisconsin with lifelong friends. He started his children young and would later do the same for his 14 grandchildren; spending hours in the boat with him, it was never really about the fishing (for any of us).
A proud sheet metal worker, Jack was a member of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) Workers Local #10 in Saint Paul. He treasured his union friendships, and especially the annual Labor Day booyas at the Highland Park pavilion—an opportunity to share old stories and laughter while taking home buckets of booya for the family. Even as his health declined, Jack continued attending monthly luncheons with his union friends.
Jack was always present—for school and sporting events, family vacations, fall weekends up north or lake time in Minnesota or Wisconsin, and countless live music concerts. He always made time for those he loved.
Those who knew Jack will remember him as kind and selfless. He was a man whose endearing humor could put anyone at ease. We all know that laugh as the loudest that would fill the room. Or the quiet version where his shoulders just shook.
Jack raised five kids with a strong foundation of faith, compassion, and humility to build their lives and families upon. His 14 grandchildren will surely carry on these values. He made a profound and lasting impact on all the lives he touched.
While he will be deeply missed, we know in some corner of heaven, he's in a guitar circle with Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, and his other rock n' roll heroes, saying they ought to play Muleskinner Blues the way he and Tom Klinger always did.
A Visitation will be held on January 29, 2026, at 10:00 AM Central Time at Guardian Angels Catholic Church 8260 4th Street North in Oakdale. Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:00 AM. Please join us immediately following for a light lunch in the reception hall.
For those unable to join in person, the service will be livestreamed at: https://www.guardian-angels.org/small-event-livestream/
Memorials preferred to Saint Mary's Mission, Red Lake Reservation, 15341 Saint Mary's Mission Road, Red Lake, MN 56671
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jack Tschida, please visit our flower store.
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