Obituary of Leo Leland Shilts

Leo Leland Shilts, 84 of Lutsen passed away March 31, 2017 after a lengthy illness at the North Shore Care Center. Leo was born on December 1, 1932 in Morse, WI to Roy and Mary (Flynn) Shilts. He was the baby of 13 children. Leo attended school in Glidden, WI 1950 – 1953 Leo worked for Falk Manufacturing and Chain Belt Co, in Milwaukee, WI Later in 1953, Leo along with one of his brothers moved to Breckenridge, CO to work as a logger. While in Breckenridge he was drafted into the Army where he served the next two years in the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, NC. In 1955 after returning from the Army, Leo moved to Minnesota to work for Tomahawk logging. On June 23, 1956, he married Arlene Santama in Ashland, WI. Shortly after their wedding they moved to Finland, MN where he worked the next two years for Hunkin Construction building the railroad to Taconite Harbor. When that project was completed he worked for various different loggers in the area. In 1962 he started his own logging operation and continued until he retired in 2001. Leo’s heart was always in the woods working on and running logging equipment. After retiring, Leo worked part time mowing greens at the Superior National Golf course in Lutsen. Leo and Arlene had 2 children, Daniel and Jane. Leo will greatly missed by: His wife of 61 years, Arlene Shilts of Lutsen, MN Daughter: Jane (Gregory) Eide of Custer, SD Granddaughter: Jennifer (Rick) Madden of Duluth, MN Grandsons: Bradly Shilts and Fiancée Alexa Franks of Castle Rock, CO Larry Eide of Sturgis, SD Great Grandson, Nicholas Madden of Duluth, MN And numerous nieces and nephews. Leo is preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Mary. His son Daniel and twelve siblings In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Leo to The Fisher House Foundation 111 Rockville Pike, Ste 420 Rockville, MD 20850 and/or the North Shore Care Center, Grand Marais, MN A social gathering for family and friends will be at the Schroeder Town Hall in Schroeder, MN on Sunday April 9, 2017 11:30 – 2:30 p.m. A light luncheon will be provided. Please bring stories to share!