Cyril Illies

Cyril M. Illies, age 88, lifetime resident of Elrosa, passed away on Monday, April 13, 2026 at the V.A. Medical Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

******Please note the date of the service******

A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 2 at St. Paul’s Cemetery in Sauk Centre with Rev. Joe Korf officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Sauk Centre United Veterans Honor Guard.

Cyril Michael Illies was born September 2, 1937 in Elrosa, Minnesota to John C. and Gertrude (Lesser) Illies. He graduated from Belgrade High School and served in the U.S. Army National Guard. Cyril worked for local farms and was a welder at Clyde Machines in Glenwood. He was also co-owner of Herickoff Dairy Supply where he was a salesman and installer of dairy equipment.

He was a faithful member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Cyril loved listening and dancing to old time music. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, cooking, and reading. Cyril also enjoyed attending stock car races, storytelling, making rosaries, and visiting with the veterans at the Eagles Healing Nest. He loved his family and the time spent with them during the holidays. Cyril cherished his dogs, Tuffy, Squirt, and Snapple.

Survivors include his brother and sisters, Mary Emslander of Sauk Centre, Thomas Illies of Andover, Kathy (Ron) Wischnefski of Sartell, and Betty Freihammer of Sauk Rapids; brother-in-law, Jerry Wischnefski; sister-in-law, Donna Illies; and many nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Cyril was preceded in death by his parents, John C. and Gertrude Illies; brother, Gene Illies; sisters, Eleanor Maier and Ruth Wischnefski; brothers-in-law, Don Emslander and Jim Maier; sister-in-law, Alice Illies; Godchild and niece, Jackie Warnert; and nephews, James Maier, Jr., John Illies, Brian Wischnefski, and Jason Illies.

Cyril will be fondly remembered and terribly missed by family and friends.

A special thank you to the staff on 49-2 at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center for the loving care he received during his stay there.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Eagles Healing Nest in Sauk Centre.