As written by John's family:
John Edwin Lillis Jr. 69 of Perham, MN. died on Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 after a long battle with cancer. John was born on February 19th, 1943 in Perham, MN the son of John Ernest Lillis Sr. and Lillian Audrey (Gladback) Lillis. John was born and raised by Dead Lake and went to country school for 8 years and then he attended one year of school in Perham. John was united in marriage to Darlene Ione Logan of Lowry on February 2, 1963 in Lowry. Their first home was in Lowry, MN and then they moved to the Perham area in 1969 where they raised their four boys. John would go turtling in the 1960's through the 90's which he would sell to a restaurant from out of state. John worked for R.D. Offut Potato Farm from the 1980's to the time of his retirement. John also enjoyed fishing and hunting and was a member of the North Country Bassin Association.
Surviving John is his wife, Darlene, four sons, Perry (Connie) Lillis of Perham, MN; Rodney (fiancée Holly) Lillis of Wadena, MN; Jerome (Rhonda) Lillis, of Glenwood, MN; and Randy (Julie) Lillis of Glenwood, MN. John is also survived by his mother Audrey Gladback Lillis; sisters, Cindy (Jim) Hawkins; Joslyn (Myron) Riendeau; Brothers, Danny (Linda) Lillis; Tim (Denise) Lillis. John also has 11 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Preceding John in death is his dad John Lillis Sr., Brother, Dennis Lillis, brother-in-law, James Logan, daughter-in-law, Jenifer Lillis Mindermann.