Michael Kilzer

Michael J. Kilzer, 29, Bismarck, was called by Our Savior to his eternal resting place in Heaven on February 20, 2006. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 24, at Spirit of Life Catholic Church, Mandan, with the Rev. Marvin Klemmer officiating. Burial will be at the Mandan Union Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Thursday, February 23, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck. Visitation will continue at Spirit of Life Catholic Church from 6:00 to 9:00 pm on Thursday with a rosary at 7:00 p.m. followed by a vigil service at 7:30 p.m. Michael was born at St. Alexius Medical Center on September 29, 1976, the son of Frank and Libby Clark Kilzer. He was raised and educated in Bismarck, graduating from St. Mary's High School in 1995 and the Community College of Denver in 2002 with an associates degree in nursing. He was employed as a registered nurse with Universal Pediatrics of Iowa, as a private nurse in Mandan and as a surgical nurse at Merit Care in Fargo. He also worked as an Eye Bank Technician for the Lions Eye Bank in Bismarck. Michael was a sports enthusiast. During his high school football career he was recognized as an All State Athlete, and as team captain of the 1994-1995 St. Mary's State Champion Football Team. He had a passion for hunting, fishing and snowboarding that he shared with family and friends. Michael was competitive and strove for excellence in everything he did. He married the love of his life, Roxanne Haff, on July 3, 1999, at Spirit of Life Catholic Church in Mandan. They began their new life together in Denver, Colorad, where they enjoyed their new jobs, the mountains, skiing, and the big city life. On August 18, 2002, Roxanne and Michael were blessed with the birth of their son Jackson Michael. Michael shared his love of sports with Jackson Michael and taught him golf, baseball, football and basketball. Michael, Roxanne and Jackson shared family time each night, including board games and reading. Every night was spent teaching Jackson about Jesus and learning how to pray. Their house was full of lots of love and not a day went by without telling each other how much they loved one another. In November 2004, they returned to Bismarck to be closer to family and friends. On September 9, 2005, they were again blessed with their beautiful daughter Audrianna Elizabeth. Though Michael and Audrianna's time together was very short, Michael shared his love with his "Big Blue-Eyed" daughter. Michael's big heart, spirit and soul will live on through his two precious children. Michael, Roxanne, Jackson, and Audrianna are members of the Spirit of Life Catholic Church where Michael and Roxanne served as Eucharistic Ministers. Michael is survived by his wife, Roxanne; his children, Jackson and Audrianna; his parents, Frank and Libby; his brothers, Eric and his wife, Peggy Sue, and Marshall and his wife, Tami; his grandparents, Edmund and Karen Kilzer; his mother and father-in-law, Ted and Donna Haff; brothers-in-law, Richard Haff and his wife, Amber, and Chad Haff; his sisters-in-law, Rhonda Jorgensen and her husband, Rory, and Bridget Haff; and his nieces and nephews McKenna, Abigail, Cole and Dillon. Preceding Michael in death are his grandparents Robert and Liz Clark and his uncle Charles "Charlie" Kilzer.

Michael Kilzer

September 29, 1976 - February 20, 2006