John Vaida

Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m Friday, September 25, 2026 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Gilbert with Fr. David Forsman celebrating. A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday with a recitation of the rosary at 6:45 p.m. at the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert. Visitation will continue one hour prior to Mass at the church. Burial will be in the Lakeside Cemetery in Biwabik. A celebration of life will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, October 3rd at the Sandbar 2 in Detroit Lakes, MN.

John Paul Vaida, 62, of Detroit Lakes died Friday, September 18, 2026 with his family by his side in McKinley. He was born on April 18, 1964 to Joseph and Marie (Malovasich) Vaida in Eveleth. He grew up and attended Gilbert High School, graduating from the Class of 1982. During high school, he attended Boys State to learn about government operations and later attended the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry. John was employed as a natural resource manager and had administered to the harvesting of 18,000 acres and the planting of over 1.4 million trees. He was a member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church of Detroit Lakes where he served as an usher and on the Knight of the Columbus. John enjoyed motorcycle riding and participating in charity rides such as the Passport Run and Get Stamp for Fun. John also dedicated his time as a hockey ref, volunteering for the Humane Society of the Lakes and A.B.A.T.E of Minnesota.

Survivors include his brother, Joseph of McKinley; nieces: Jade, Catelin, Jeris, Kelsi and Elise; nephews: Kayden and Logan; cousins: Mary Murray and Mike Dolinar; as well as other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by a stillborn sister; and his parents.