Vilas Klitz is a native of Wisconsin where he grew up on a farm before moving to Illinois and eventually to California. He had a long career providing artificial insemination services for dairy cows before his retirement. He has been a resident since 1996.

He loves living at St. Thomas, but indicated that it took awhile for him to adjust after living so many years on his own. Vilas has a stepson in Turlock who visits him regularly.