P.J. Schiller, 92, of Argyle, peacefully passed away Tuesday, September 7, 2021, surrounded by his wife and children at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND.
P.J. (Phillip Joseph Jr.), son of Phillip & Stella (Riopelle) Schiller, was born March 8, 1929, on the family farm northwest of Argyle, MN in Bloomer Township. Following his time in country school and graduation from the Northwest School of Agriculture (the AC), P.J. continued to work on the family farm. He was united in Holy Matrimony to Rosemary McGlynn, on June 25, 1952, in St. Joseph Mission Church west of Stephen, MN. The couple started their lives together in a small, single room home on the Schiller farm. They later moved into the original farmhouse where they raised their eight children. In addition to farming, P.J. was an excellent carpenter, cabinet builder, and ironworker. In the winter months, he could always be found wearing his dusty overalls in his woodshop, amidst a pile of sawdust, building almost anything. He remodeled many homes throughout the area.
P.J. never minced his words, as his children learned very early, and that when Dad spoke, you listened. He taught his children the value of going to church, hard work, and that you earn your pay by the sweat of your brow. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren by taking them for rides on the tractor, teaching them the trade of carpentry, hunting, and shooting targets. He was proud to gift a gun to any new grandchild at Christmas.
P.J. is survived by his wife of 69 years, Rosemary, Argyle, MN: his eight children, Lana Rae (Robert) Dufault, Clark, Lein (Susan), Argyle; Maryrose (Michael) Johnson-Wavra, Grand Forks; Fred (Lana Rae), Woodbury, MN; Hector, Argyle; P. Daniel (Amy), Eagan, MN; and Yvette (Darrin) Gourde, Greenville, SC: eighteen grandchildren: twelve great-grandchildren: sister, Louella Goulet: sister-in-law, Rita Nelson: brother-in-law, Clark (LuAnn) McGlynn: and his many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Phillip and Stella; three infant children, Peter, Teresa, and Missy; son-in-law, Kenneth Johnson; daughter-in-law, Nancy (nee. Wikstrom) Schiller; sisters, Sharon Schiller and Anita (Phil) Schomer; brothers-in-law, Jack Goulet, Gene McGlynn, Dan (Donna) McGlynn, Tom (Mary) McGlynn, and Lawrence Nelson; and granddaughter, Claudia Gourde.
May God bless, and may we pray for, the soul of P.J. Schiller.
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Saturday, September 11, 2021, at 11:00 AM, in St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Argyle, MN.
VISITATION: Friday, September 10, starting at 5:00 PM, with a Rosary at 6:45 and a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM, in St. Rose Catholic Church, Argyle; and one hour prior to Mass.
INTERMENT: St. Rose Catholic Cemetery, Argyle.
NOTE: Lunch will be served at the church following Mass.