Michael J. Pitzl

Michael J. Pitzl, age 76, passed away peacefully in his sleep surrounded by friends and family on May 25, 2026.

Family was the most important thing in Mike’s life, and he and Kathy, his wife of 53 years, dedicated their lives to their children and grandchildren. Family vacations, holidays and ordinary days, Mike was happiest with his family around him, loud and laughing and in each other’s business. He quickly became known as "Grandpa Yes" as he rarely, if ever, said no to his grandkids and he delighted in experiencing their lives with them, whether it be sporting events, recitals, vacations, or even entertaining them with his Tarzan yell.

Mike started his career by getting his Pharmacy degree at the University of Minnesota. While attending school, he made lifelong friends in the PDX Fraternity, friends that still get together once or twice a year to this day. He first worked at Snyder Pharmacy but eventually made the switch to Walmart, where his career really took off. Through a series of promotions, he found himself and family living in Bentonville, Arkansas as the Senior Director of Sam’s Club pharmacies, working at the Walmart home office. He and Kathy made the decision to move back to Minnesota when their grandkids started showing up, and he finished his career as the Director of Pharmacy at HCMC.

Outside of work and family, Mike found other ways to be a part and touch the lives of so many people. He was larger than life and liked to live his life the same way, embracing all with good humor and steady support. He coached baseball for years, instilling catch phrases and nicknames that lasted long after the seasons ended. He was a member of the St. Paul Curling Club many years. His love of trains and model railroading brought him to volunteer at the Minnesota Transportation Museum, and he spent summers volunteering at Victory Golf Course.

Mike had a deep love of traveling that he carried throughout his whole life. He spent years traveling the country with Kathy on the back of his motorcycle with close friends. He loved cruising and all-inclusive resorts, and he especially loved Disney. Planning the trips was just as much fun for him as it was going on them, and all who benefitted from that will miss his dedication to the details.

Preceded in death by his father, Fran; mother, Mary “Mitzi”; and older brother, John. Mike is survived by his wife, Kathy; brother, Jerry (Nisie); children, Andy (Diana), Karie, James (Julie), Betsy (Neil) Petersen, and Nick (Amber), as well as his beloved grandchildren: Hunter, Hailey, Austin, Ellie, Cassidy, Megan, Ava, Jack, Isaac, and Henry.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, June 12 at 11 AM at the Church of St. Genevieve Parish Community Center, 6995 Centerville Rd, Centerville. Visitation will be held at the church from 10-11 AM.

Private interment at St. Genevieve Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Cancer Society for esophageal cancer research, or the Minnesota Transportation Museum.

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