Vitold Kilian

Vitold George Kilian passed away unexpectedly at the age of 68 on Friday, February 5, 2016, at Baptist Hospital in Jackson, MS. Vitold is survived by his wife, Linda Byrd Kilian, his daughter, Katelan Kilian Newell, his beloved grandchildren, Hannah, Jordan and Abigail Newell, and his sister and brother, Jerri Myers and Michael Kilian.

Vitold was born in Rice Lake, WI, but moved to Clinton, MS, at the age of 15. He graduated from Clinton High School and attended Hinds Junior College.

On April 15, 1972, he married, Linda Byrd, an English teacher from Jackson, and the two were happily married for nearly 44 years. On November 18, 1974, he and Linda welcomed their beautiful daughter, Katelan, who was the joy of his life. He lived in Clinton for 52 years and retired from Freeman Water Treatment, where he was the warehouse manager and looked forward to spending more time with his wife and family.

He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

For the first time in my life the casket of the deceased did not have a floral spray but was draped with the Christian flag.  I know you know.  The large white field with a navy blue square in one corner and red cross.  Before the service was over I could not have envisioned anything else on his casket.  It was perfect.  His family called him Veet but I will call him Vitold in my notes as that is how I knew him.

His nephew (Linda's nephew) spoke first saying that this was going to be upbeat and proceeded to make sure that it was.  He was a party to Vitold and Linda's first date.  They came back to Linda's parents' home and the nephew was there spending the night, and he sat with the couple and watched Johnny Carson.  This nephew and Vitold worked together at one time.  They had a route where the nephew delivered products and collected cash.  Without this they had no cash flow.  The fully loaded van would not crank.  So, sadly, he went to tell Vitold, who went in the grocery store and bought a bottle of olive oil.  He raised the hood of the van, poured a little oil on his palms and rubbed his hands together then placed his palms on the motor and began to pray.  When he finished, he lowered the hood and the nephew cranked the van and delivered every item in the truck.  That was the power of prayer!

Little sister, Jeri, was up next.  She said that she had not been born yet but her parents had told the story of Vitold's first day at school.  They were so excited about him attending kindergarten.  They had dressed him up and taken him to school and then gone home to wait to hear all about his first day.  In about an hour the five year old showed up at home having walked away from school.  They asked him what happened, and he said well it was okay.  They had colored a while and had a snack, and he decided that he could that at home.  So he came home.  Pretty
much his attitude toward education the rest of his school career.

Jeri said that she and Vitold were in high school together for one year.  They enjoyed going to school together.  She said that she noticed that her friends were getting asked out for dates and to go to dances and she wasn't.  As she said, "Even that girl had a date" making her wonder about herself.  The next year after Vitold had moved on to Hinds, her friends told her that any boy that had expressed an interest in dating Jeri and were not deemed suitable were subjected to a discussion with Vitold.  He was her protective big brother! 

What a strong Christian family!  The nephew's wife spoke next and she said that they have a family Bible study every Tuesday.  How fitting it was that Vitold's funeral was on Tuesday so they didn't have to cancel Bible study.  Last Tuesday Vitold's brother, Michael, left a little early.  His niece said that after he left Vitold nodded toward the empty seat and said that Michael was the reason he was a Christian.  Linda gave her Vitold's notes from that Bible Study, and she researched the list of scriptures he had written down and used the "Veetisms" from each one.

He had not changed since high school as he was still a man of few words.  At one Bible study they were discussing what they would want to say to the family if they died.  Linda crossed her arms and said that she would want the family to look around and note that, like Elvis, Linda had left the building.  When Vitold was asked what he'd say, he waved his hand and said, "Bye". 

At one point of his working career in providing for his family, Vitold worked nights at a convenience store in a not-so-nice part of town.  One night late and by himself, a robber walked in and put a gun in his face and demanded all his money.  Vitold said, "What?" and the man repeated the request.  Vitold puffed out his chest and rose as high and big as he could and put his arm straight out and put his hand in the armed man's face and said, "Get out of my store in the name of Jesus Christ."  Shocked the man said, "What did you say?"  Vitold said he couldn't believe he'd say it again, but again he put his arm out and demanded that the man leave.  "Get out of my store in the name of Jesus Christ."  The man dropped his gun arm and walked out of the store.  Vitold called the police to report the robbery attempt.  The policeman taking down what happened asked and Vitold told him that he stretched out his arm and told the robber to get out of his store in the name of Jesus Christ.  The  police said, "You did what?"  So for the fourth time that night Vitold repeated his demand.  Jesus was with Vitold that night.

Vitold had retired from Freeman Water Treatment just last year.  At his retirement someone made the remark to Vitold's boss that the job Vitold had done was quite physical and they were surprised that he had stuck with it and was able to do it for so many years.  His boss responded that he didn't hire Vitold because of his physicality but because of his character.  What a wonderful thing to have your employer say about you!

When Vitold and Linda's oldest granddaughter, Hannah, got her driver's license.  Vitold assigned her the job of always bringing her car.  Whenever he was ready to go, Hannah took him home.  Sometimes he would wait for her to come to him, and then he'd say, "I never thought you'd ask!"

His big brown chair was his favorite haven.

The following comments were provided by Amylou Douglas Flournoy after attending Vitold's funeral.