Joseph Felix Jilk

Joseph F. Jilk, 80, of Fountain City, WI, died on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at his home in Piepers Valley.

Joe was born on August 23, 1944, to August and Anastasia (Monahan) Jilk, and was raised in Stockton Valley, Minnesota. He started working at a very young age trapping pocket gophers, picking blackberries for 5-10 cents per pint, set lining, coon hunting, and helping on the family farm. Later, Joe was a truck driver, painted barns, worked at Watkins, and started a small dairy farm in Piepers Valley. After mastering the woodworking trade, he became a self-employed carpenter, which he continued to do until retirement.

Joe was united in marriage to Helen Merchlewitz in 1966. They were blessed with five children and later were divorced. Eventually, he found his best friend and significant other, Sandy Rhyner, and her two children.

Joe loved to spend time with family. Even at his 80th birthday party, he was victorious at his obstacle-riddled croquet course in his favorite double elimination “poison” version of the game. Joe and Sandy enjoyed sunny days on their pontoon on the Mississippi River where he spent most of that time pulling out the giant fish that she caught. They enjoyed trips to the casinos in Red Wing and Black River and vacations to Laughlin, Nevada where he loved to watch the Colorado River.

An avid outdoorsman, Joe was a crackshot hunter with either a gun or bow in his hands. From a young age, hunting was a way of life which provided food for his family. Some say he was shooting a BB gun even before he could walk. Joe shared countless deer hunting adventures with his family. His passion was shown in how he would eagerly listen to the details of each hunt’s story, all the while organizing the next day’s plan of attack to fill everyone’s tags.

His adventures didn’t stay in the Buffalo County area but instead expanded north and west. They included road trips to La Salle Pass in Colorado, where he used a muzzleloader to hunt elk in the Rockies with sons Jim and Timmy and grandsons Tylor and Damian. He also enjoyed summer walleye fishing at Lake of the Woods with Jim, Timmy, Danny, and Damian.

Back at home, Joe was known as the guy that could fix anything. He enjoyed helping friends and family with projects and repairs. He was always busy working on a project in his shop. He also loved to garden and would politely ask the coon to leave his corn alone. He was also a passionate storyteller, sharing them with whomever would listen. He wrote about everything from Gage shooting his first deer and Trinity’s sunflower garden to whichever bird caught his attention that day at one of his many bird feeders.

Joe is survived by his significant other, Sandy Rhyner; son, Jim (Amy) Jilk and their children, Tylor, Damian (Leigh) and Trinity; son, Frank (Jessica) Jilk and their children, Alexia, Skyler, and Jaxson; daughter, Laurie (Jim) Spychalla and their children, Jimmy, Tanya, and Christina; son, Danny (Molly) Rhyner and his son, Gage; son, Timmy Rhyner, and son-in-law Brian Greger and his daughter, Melissa; grandchildren Jennifer Borg, Peter Jilk Jr., and Angelina Brown Jilk; several great grandchildren; siblings, John, Peter, and Therese Jilk, and Christina Falkowski; and by many other relatives and countless friends.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, sister Barbara, brothers James and Tony, brother-in-law Mike, sister-in-law Kay, son Pete, and daughter Theresa.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, April 5th, at the VFW, 100 Michaels St. in Cochrane, WI, from Noon to 3 PM. A light meal will be provided. Please bring your favorite story to share with friends and family.

Talbot Family Funeral Homes-Scenic Rivers Cremation Center assisted the family. To express condolences online, please visit www.talbotfuneralhomes.com.

Rest easy, Jr, your spirit will forever ripple across the waters of the Mississippi River and echo through the oak trees in Wolf Hollow. You will be deeply missed and forever remembered.