John Rieland

John P. "Jack" Rieland, age 63, of Melrose, died Saturday, May 22, 2010 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 26 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Vince Lieser officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery with military honors by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be at 7 p.m. followed by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard at 7:30 p.m.

John Paul Rieland was born June 7, 1946 in Melrose to Wilfred and Loretta (Welle) Rieland. He served in the U.S. Army National Guard for six years; honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant. He married Shirley Klassen on September 9, 1967 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. John was employed at 3M in Maplewood for 36 years; retiring in 2005.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose.Jack enjoyed pontooning, fishing, and having a good time with family and friends. He loved life.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley Rieland of Melrose; mother, Loretta Rieland of Melrose; brothers, Gary (Katie) Rieland of Plymouth, Mike (Mary) Rieland of Melrose, and Mark (Lou) Rieland of WI; brothers-in-law, Donald (Delores) Klassen of Melrose, Ed Kacures of St. Joseph, and Robert "Bob" (Rita) Klassen of Melrose; sisters-in-law, Pat Klassen of New Hope, Dorothy (Vern) Fuechtmann of Blaine and Bernette (Wif) Petermeier Finken of Melrose; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

John was preceded in death by his father, Wilfred Rieland; father and mother-in-law, Leo and Agnes Klassen; brothers-in-law, Gene Petermeier and Edwin Klassen; sister-in-law, Kathleen Kacures; John's grandparents for both the Rieland's and Welle's; and dear friend, Dan Meyer.

Serving as casket bearers will be Gary Scharmer, Tom Slavik, Tom Huebner, Jim Kowskie, Lee Moening, and Steve Nett. Cross bearer will be Meghan Rieland. Honorary bearers will be John's Godchildren, Meghan Rieland, Megan Willret, Kristen Esposito, Mark Schoen, Leah Wilda, and John Douglas Rieland.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the American Heart Association.