Michael J. Schiltz, 68, of Warrensburg, died Tuesday, June 19, at Select Specialty Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas.The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 28, at Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home. Memorial services will be held 10 a.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with Father Joe Bathke officiating. A luncheon will follow the services at the church.

He was born Nov. 23, 1949, in Estherville, Iowa, the son of Lawrence and Rosemary (Harn) Schiltz. He grew up in Algona, Iowa, and graduated from Bishop Garrigan High School in 1968. Mike attended Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg before joining the Army.

On Aug. 3, 1974, he and Mari Rae Merriam were united in marriage in Corwith, Iowa. Following their wedding, they returned to Warrensburg so that Mike could work on completing his degree. The majority of his employment was spent working as a glazier for Harding glass, and later as a painter at the Physical Plant at UCM. He was also a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Mike loved spending time with his family and friends, particularly at the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. He enjoyed playing golf and watching all sports, especially the Missouri Tigers and the Iowa Hawkeyes. In his later years spending time with his grandchildren, Aiden and Micah, was the highlight of his life.

Mike was best known for his infectious sense of humor. Never one to meet a stranger, Mike’s one-of-a-kind personality and natural storytelling ability always shone through. He was never satisfied until a smile was on every face.

Michael is survived by his wife, Mari Rae, of Warrensburg; son, Mark Schiltz and partner, Daniel Graves of Kansas City, Missouri; daughter, Heather Lockard and husband Greg, and their children, Aiden and Micah of Ashland, Missouri; six brothers, Jim (Connie) Schiltz, Pat Schiltz, Paul (Diane) Schiltz, Anthony Schiltz, Larry (Nina) Schiltz, and Phil (Illa) Schiltz; and four sisters, Rita Alexander, Rose (Lynn) Knudsen, Ruth Semro, and Anita (Steve) Schiltz-Loitz. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Bernard Schiltz; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Wilbur and Virginia Merriam.

Mike was the fortunate recipient of a double-lung transplant in 2014, thanks to the generous gift of a donor.

Memorial contributions are therefore suggested to Donate Life America, so others can hopefully receive the same gift of additional time with loved ones that Mike was blessed to receive. Donations can be left in care of the funeral home.