Richard Gillitzer

RICK GILLITZER - FUNERAL SERVICE AND CELEBRATION OF LIFE Saturday, July 25, 2020 Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club 2920 East 220th Street Prior Lake, MN 3:00pm - 10:00pm 3:00pm: Funeral Service lead by pastor Greg Grimstad from Eagle Brook Church Reception following the service 6:00pm: Celebration of Life music provided by Vinyl Recliner We will follow the covid social gathering guidelines set for this time. Please rsvp your name and # of people in planning efforts for covid seating. RSVP: kgilli9@hotmail.com Kelly and the Gillitzer family are looking forward to seeing those who can attend Rick’s memorial service and celebration of life on Saturday. Due to these pandemic times we are all in, we understand if you are unable to attend in person. Your love, condolences, and prayers will be felt from the distance. The entire service and celebration of life will be held outdoors under a pavilion at the Minnesota Horse and Hunt. Tables and grouping of chairs will be placed throughout providing social distancing between each group. Upon arrival, please sit at a table. You may sit or stand in a separate location during the service and reception. Prepackaged meals will be served. To ensure everyone is safe during these corona virus times, please ensure you follow the guidelines below: •Please withhold hugs and handshakes, please put both your hands over your heart to send love to the person you are greeting. •Practice social distancing •Use the provided hand sanitizer upon arrival •Please bring a mask to wear (optional but highly recommended). Masks will be available as well •Attire is comfortable, cool and casual – the weather will be warm. Richard (Rick) Arnold Gillitzer, age 53, of Centerville, MN, passed away Sunday, May 24, 2020 from prostate cancer. Rick, born November 23, 1966, to Arnold C. and Gladys R. (Jaeckels) Gillitzer, was the youngest of six siblings. Rick was the first of his family to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree, from Augsburg College, where he graduated with honors. After school he worked in the financial industry in different capacities, but he enjoyed his “side jobs” flipping cabins more. Most important to Rick was his wife, Kelly and son, Owen. They shared a wealth of long-time friends and Rick made new friends everywhere he went. Rick’s genuine generous and kind nature, without pretense, marked all of his interactions. He found joy in simple things and was always quick to smile and pitch in. He modeled living in the moment, appreciating time spent at the cabin, on the lake, in the woods, on the beach, or wherever he could enjoy God’s beauty and share it with others. Rick is preceded in death by his father, Arnold, and brother, Jeff. He is survived by his wife, Kelly and son, Owen; mother, Gladys; sisters Luann (Phil) Kirkegaard, Sherry (Jack) Bemis, and Linda (Lenny) Berg; brother, Brad; 6 nieces, 1 nephew, and numerous great nieces and nephews. He formed meaningful relationships with his “G3” nieces and nephews and the upcoming “G4” generation, and touched the lives of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. We know that Rick would want everyone to continue to smile, laugh, and reach out to those around us. If you can, lend a hand, perform a service or small favor for a family member, friend or neighbor and pay it forward in Rick’s memory.