John Steven Heilgeist was born in Waukegan, IL on May 13th, 1963, to Robert and Gisela Heilgeist. John was the youngest of 5 brothers, and spent his childhood growing up in Lake Villa, IL, until his family moved to Twin Lakes, WI, where he attended Randall Consolidated School in his 8th grade.

John's charming and charismatic personality made him loved by his friends and classmates, and he was voted prom king in his senior year at Wilmot Union High School, where he earned his diploma and graduated from. After high school he did one year in the US Army reserves. During his teen and young adult years, he loved hanging out and throwing parties with his friends, getting into mischief, attending concerts, and playing softball, the latter being where he met Diane Runyard, in which they got married in 1989. They were married for 15 years and had three children, two daughters and a son, Brittany, Heather, and Cole.

John was a lover of all things culture; music, movies, TV, history, and documentaries were his interests.  His illuminating personality and his brilliant sense of humor was complimented by a bright mind and a generous heart. Above all, his greatest trait was his immensely powerful love he had for his children and later grandchildren. John delighted in his two daughters and younger son, and went to great lengths to make their childhoods as magical as possible. He spent many days taking his children shopping, to see the latest movies at the theater, out to lunch and dinner, hosting sleepovers for his children's friends, showing them his impressive music collection, and taking them swimming at his parents pool. John loved spending time outside playing with his children, whether it was playing catch and basketball with them, watching his kids jump on the trampoline, or just sitting and laughing while his children played. John's loving presence was so immense that it helped shaped the inner worlds of his kids . His deeper passions for art and entertainment, history, and comedic outlook on life all survive through them. Nothing defined John more than his boundless love he poured into his three children, and later in life his two granddaughters with the same intensity. That fierce, proud, and constant love will forever remain the foundation for his kids's lives, and while he will be missed beyond measure, he will always be in the hearts of his children and those he loved and affected.

He was proceeded in death by his father and mother, Gisela and Robert Heilgeist, and his brother Karl. John is survived by his brothers Robert, Rolf, and Eric Heilgeist. Additionally, he is survived by his children; Brittany, his eldest, and her daughter Quinn, Heather, the middle child and her daughter Saphira, his youngest child and son Cole, and his two nephews, Brian and Adam.

No services will be held at this time.  The Haase-Lockwood & Associates Funeral Home and Crematory of Twin Lakes, WI is honored to serve the Heilgeist family.