Johnny R. Sills

Johnny R. Sills, age 40 of Blaine, formerly of Sauk Centre, died Saturday, June 13, 2009 as a result of a motorcycle accident. Funeral services will be 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 17 at First Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. James Clausen officiating assisted by Rev. Darren Olson. Interment will be in Saint Paul's Cemetery in Sauk Centre with military honors provided by members of the Minnesota National Guard and the Sauk Centre United Veterans Honor Guard. Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. The United Veterans Prayer Service will be held at 7 p.m. followed by the Blue Star Mothers Tuesday evening at the funeral home. Johnny Ray Sills was born June 29, 1968 in Oakland, California to Thomas and Dorothy (Warner) Sills. He graduated from Sauk Centre High School in 1986 and served in the United States Marine Corps from 1986 to 1990, with deployment to Panama. In 2001, he joined the Army National Guard with deployment to Iraq. Upon his return from Iraq, he received the Army Commendation Medal. He attended Mankato State University and also Alexandria Technical College earning a degree in fluid power. On May 22, 1999 he was united in marriage to Janelle Vig in Appleton, Minnesota. Johnny was currently working at Air Engineering and Supply in Minneapolis. He was a member of the Patriot Guard, American Legion Post 67, and the Paul F. Donart V.F.W. Post 2853. Johnny enjoyed motorcycling, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, golfing, and volleyball. He loved spending time with his family, especially with his boys. He is survived by his wife, Janelle Sills of Blaine; sons, Jesse, age 7, and Casey, age 5; parents, Tom and Dorothy Sills of Sauk Centre; grandmother, Mary Warner of Sauk Centre; sister, Wendy (Jeff) Middendorf of Sauk Centre and their children, Austin and Maddie Middendorf; and many loving nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, family and friends. Johnny was preceded in death by his grandparents, Charles Warner, and Earl and Thelma Sills; uncle, Harold Ray Sills. Serving as casket bearers will be Curt Theis, Jeff Middendorf, Chad Loxtercamp, Dale Klitzke, Brian Steele, and Mike Vig. Honorary bearers will be members of the Army National Guard Delta Company 1-194CAB.