John D. Pitner

Minot

John Dwayne “JD” Pitner was born to Joseph and Regina (Susak) Pitner on April 15, 1952. Minot was his home until his death on June 6, 2023, after a heroic battle with cancer. John attended Eureka School District No. four until eighth grade and graduated from Bishop Ryan Catholic High School in Minot in 1970.

After losing his father at the age of 12, John spent his youth helping his mother and siblings on their dairy and grain farm north of Minot and working for neighboring farmers. He also worked at Tollefson’s furniture in Minot before hiring onto the Burlington Northern Railroad on July 22, 1972, where he worked as a brakeman/conductor for 50 years, retiring on July 22, 2022.

John held various titles over the years including Amtrak conductor, local chairman for the UTU, and one of the first members of the local Operation Stop initiative. John took pride in training countless new hires and passing his endless railroading knowledge onto them. John was a smart railroader.

John married his wife, Irene (Fix), on April 23, 1976, at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Harvey, ND, and together they welcomed ten children, David being his favorite.

John and Irene were members of St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Minot up until his death.

John enjoyed many hobbies in his not so free time: baking and cooking, hunting and fishing, playing softball, and snowmobiling, but when asked what he did for fun, he would say “railroading.”

John loved sharing his culinary skills while on the other end at work, cooking and baking for other rails. Miraculously, however, John never seemed to understand how much to cook to feed all ten of his children: Dad always underestimated his own appetite. John had a love of God’s creation, spending time trapping fox, hunting deer, and fishing for walleye. He enjoyed every season of the year and raced snowmobiles competitively for many years, placing 2nd in the Regina 250, a cross-country snowmobile competition from Regina, Saskatchewan, to Minot, with a 440 Scorpion snowmobile in 1975.

In 1989, John and Irene opened a self-serve carwash: Hi-Shine Carwash located at 1717-4th Avenue NW, Minot. John operated the carwash until his death.

Throughout the years, John and Irene purchased and renovated several properties. John took pride in providing a nice home for tenants to live in.

John was a self-taught “John” of all trades. He was very mechanically inclined and wasn’t afraid to tackle any job head on doing many concrete and construction jobs with his boys and friends over the years.

Although John was known by many as a “railroad” man, his heart was at the farm. John was never far from farming whether farming family land north of Minot or in 1998 when his father-in-law’s health declined, requiring John’s involvement in farming land near Harvey.

John was a great steward of the land, always conscience of not putting good money after bad. He worked to expand his farming operations some and better the farm. John loved to be on the farm and in the field.

John had an inexhaustible work ethic and an unmatched faith in the Lord that he worked to pass down to his children. He always made time to lend a hand, never expecting something in return.

To his kids, to be “on the other end” meant Dad would be at work, that phrase now takes on a new meaning. He received his last “on duty call”, except this time the destination was Heaven. See you on the other end, Dad. We will remember to always “watch for deer.” Love you too, Dad.

At John’s request, in lieu of flowers, please wash your car at Hi-Shine Carwash at a time convenient for you in remembrance of his legacy.

John was survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Irene; ten children: John (Heather) Pitner Minot; Angela (Kent) Bradley, Rapid City, SD; Jennifer (Mark) Jundt, Orono, MN; Matthew Pitner, North Hollywood, CA; David (Karalyn) Pitner, Norwich; Paul (Heidi) Pitner, Minot; Maria (Leo) Plese, East Bethel, MN; Christopher Pitner, North Hollywood, CA; Anthony Pitner Inver Grove Heights, MN; and Sarah (Mason) Merck, Minot; 26 grandchildren; 1 grandchild expected to arrive this November; siblings: Gladys Kraft, Norwich; Joyce Bean, Kansas City, MO; Joseph Pitner, Towner; mother-in-law, Helen Fix, Minot; sisters-in-law: Barbara Pitner, Minot; Frances (Kevin) Mayer, Casselton, and Philomena (Al) Koapke, Surrey; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

John was preceded in death by his parents: Joseph and Regina (Susek) Pitner; siblings: Joan Lund, Daniel Pitner, Lawrence Pitner and Judith Pitner; brothers-in-law: Peter Kraft, Donald Lund, and George Fix, Jr.; sister-in-law: Jackie Pitner; father-in-law, George Fix Sr.; and nephews: Lawrence John Pitner and Mark Gilpin; and niece: Lori Kampert.

Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, June 16, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot.

Interment: Sunset Memorial Cemetery, Minot.

Visitation: Thursday from 6 -7 p.m. at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot.

Vigil Prayer Service: Thursday at 7 p.m. at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot.

The service will be livestreamed for the public to view and can be accessed by going to the Thompson-Larson Funeral home website: www.thompsonlarson.com

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).

Published by The Minot Daily News, June 13, 2023.