John James Lila

John James Lila, affectionately called "Horse", of Stevens Point, passed away at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee with his loving family by his side, on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025, from an 8 month battle with AML, at the age of 72.
John was born February 4, 1953, in Almond, WI; son of the late Clifford and Gladys (Sikorski) Lila. He grew up in the area where he raised geese for 4-H and loved cream cheese so much, he developed an ulcer. He attended high school at Pacelli High School where he played football, baseball, basketball, and track. He was a proud member of the Class of 1971.
Following high school, John joined the workforce as a millwright. On September 19, 1992, he married Patricia Krieger. John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend to many. He was a kind and gentle man who loved his family with all his heart, and especially adored his grandchildren.
Throughout his life, John enjoyed the outdoors, whether it was hunting, fishing, golfing, pontooning, or riding motorcycles. He also enjoyed planting food plots for deer, gardening, and planting fruit trees. In his later years, John enjoyed his Monday breakfast with friends, John, Kevy and Dave, and breakfast at the Rock-n-Roll Cafe with the counter crew.
John is survived by his wife, Patricia; his son, Jonathon (Tia); a grandson, Elias; and a granddaughter, Rivi. He is further survived by brothers Rich (Jill), Mark, Bob, and Tom (Jocelyn); nieces and nephews Jessica (Brandon), Naomi, Katrina and Beau (Shana); brothers- and sisters-in-law Curt (Deb) Krieger, Debbie (Roger) Honeyager, Dennis (Deb) Krieger, Kay Krieger, Kelli Stelzer, Kevin (Missy) Krieger, Kris Krieger; and numerous more nieces, nephews, and cousins.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Gladys; his maternal and paternal grandparents; his father- and mother-in-law, John and Delores Krieger; sisters-in-law, Terry Lila and Cheryl Krieger; brother-in-law Ronald Sersch; and aunts and uncles.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the entire oncology department at Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital, Dr. Islam and his nursing staff, and the 5 West infusion department for the excellent and compassionate care they gave John. We will forever be grateful.
For those wishing to express their sympathies, the family kindly requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the family. Those donations will be paid forward to various charities yet to be decided.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, December 5, 2025, at Shuda Plover Funeral Home - 2400 Plover Road, Plover. Friends and family are invited to gather and share memories from 9:00 AM until the time of service.
Shuda Funeral Chapel is honored to be assisting the family.