The celebration of life service for Milton "Bud" Kitzman will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 17, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Elgin with Pastor Terrill Bramstedt officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service on Monday at the Church. Burial will be in the Elgin Cemetery at a later date with Military Rites by the Elgin and Plainview American Legion.

Mr. Kitzman, 87, a lifelong resident of the Elgin area, passed away peacefully on Monday morning, April 10, 2017 at Green Prairie Rehabilitation Center in Plainview.

Milton "Bud" Alfred Kitzman was born August 5, 1929 in Potsdam, Olmsted County, to Alfred and Laura (Hoffman) Kitzman. After attending school, he started farming in addition to hauling milk before he joined the Army and proudly served in Korea from 1951 – 1953. He continued to serve in the Army Reserves.

On March 5, 1955, he married Marlys Charlotte Boie and made a home together on their farm in Potsdam. He truly adored his wife and three children, Dann, Steven, and Kaye. Farming was not only his occupation but a genuine passion. His generous reputation preceded him, as he was known to help neighbors and friends without question or hesitation.

Bud simply loved people, and entertaining them. He always found a reasons to host a party at the farm, from Super Bowls to birthdays, and everything in between. His smooth dance moves with his wife, Marlys, will continue to live on in cherished VHS recordings. Bud and Marlys were all about hospitality, as they welcomed family and friends to stop by whenever, even unannounced to visit. The Golden Glove boxer and Johnny Cash fan was also an active member of the American Legion. He enjoyed traveling – from road trips all over the American Heartland (usually to casinos), to distant vacation destinations, like Alaska, Hawaii, and Australia. When he wasn't teaching his grandchildren to drive on Olmsted County country roads, he was playing solitaire and Gin Rummy with them.

Bud is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marlys of Elgin; his children, Dann (Pam) Kitzman of Elgin, Steven (Therese) Kitzman of Northfield, and Kaye (James) Anderson of Manitowoc, WI; his grandchildren, Shane Kitzman, Tyler Kitzman, Amanda Anderson, and Brandon Anderson; and his brother, Earl (Evie) Kitzman of Elgin. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister Elaine Bernhardt.

Memorials are preferred to Green Prairie Rehabilitation Center or Trinity Lutheran Church in Elgin.

The family will be forever grateful to the Green Prairie nursing staff and St. Croix Hospice staff for their loving and gentle care.