Obituaries, March 5
Zempel, Thatcher, Harvey, Heinrich, Felsman
Bryan Michael Zempel
Bryan Michael Zempel was born on Dec. 28, 1980, to Julie Hunt (Kuefler) and Allen Zempel. He was named after a long time family friend Michael Rogers, and avid fisherman, and Bryan held up to his name.
On Thursday, Feb. 19 Bryan lost his life to a tragic logging accident near Polson with his brother at his side.
During his short time here, he lived his life to the fullest. Bryan was always ready to do something, whether it was hunting, fishing, logging or just plain fun. He loved being with his family and friends.
Bryan was often caught skipping school because he knew he had better things to do. Bryan knew his calling at a young age and he knew school was not for him. At age 15, Bryan’s grandpa, Ernie Hunt, and family took Bryan under their wing and showed him the ropes of the timber industry. Bryan worked at Hunt’s Timber until 2006. He then worked side -by-side with his father. It was during this time that Bryan laid down the groundwork for his own business. In the spring of 2007, Bryan started his business Zempel Forestry. This was Bryan’s pride and joy. Everyone knew that Bryan was truly doing what he loved and was born to do.
Bryan’s other love was his family. On Aug. 13, 2005, Bryan married Danielle Knutson, in St. Ignatius. Their family grew to include Bryan, Danielle, Braydon (5), Brielle (1) and his dog, Hunter (trusted companion).
Bryan loved spending time outdoors with his wife and kids. He cherished every minute he was with them. He was the best husband and is loved deeply. Bryan took great pride in being a father. Bryan instilled many morals, beliefs and traditions in his children. As a family, we spent our time together. We laughed, played and cried together. The most recent pride of Bryan’s was the house he built for his family. Bryan started in November 2008 and with bare ground since then built a new home.
Over the years, Bryan spent many countless hours in the woods, mountains or on the water. He always enjoyed taking others along for the adventure (as long as they did not out fish or out shoot him, but that did not happen very often). Bryan loved to be the guide for others. His most treasured adventures were with family. Bryan had many camping trips with his dad, brothers and family, with them at his side Bryan always returned with a story and a smile. Bryan left his traditions to be carried on by many, including friends, brothers and children.
Grandpa Ernie Hunt preceded Bryan in death. He is surivived by his wife Danielle Zempel; son Braydon Zempel; daughter Brielle Zempel; parents Julie (Mike) Kuefler and Allen (Naomi) Zempel; sister Marie (Nick) Halloran; brothers: Jeremy (Ginger) Zempel, Chris (Michelle) Zempel; sister-in-law Hailey Weible and brother-in-laws Brady Weible, Bailey Weible; grandparents Jackie Hunt, Delores and Bud Zempel, Don and Nancy Kuefler; nieces and nephews, Sharmaine, Ariana, Kimberly, Branson and Bryanne Zempel.
They said he walked on water and he will be deeply missed.
Logger, Father, Brother, Husband, Son.
Forever and Forever.
ONE INCREDIBLE MAN.
Please make all contributions to a saving account in his children’s names to Lake County Bank in St. Ignatius.
Family asks that all please write down any and all memories of Bryan. These memories will be made into a book for his children. Please take time to do this. Memories can be left at Leon Hall.
A visitation was held on Wednesday, Feb. 25 in the Grogan Funeral Home. Service for family and friends will be held. Please contact the family or Grogan Funeral Home for information. A celebration of Bryan’s life was held on Thursday.
Tina Thatcher
RONAN – Tina Thatcher, 44, passed away at her home on Tuesday.
Tina was born in Snohomish, Wash. on July 13, 1964, to Dean Kenneth and Sharon (Payne) Thatcher.
Tina was employed as a vocational rehabilitation placement specialist in California until moving to Montana in 2001 where she worked for Reliacom in Ronan and for Lucky Lil’s Casino in Ronan until she was diagnosed with MS which caused her to slow down.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a son Jessie James Thatcher, who passed away in 1991.
Survivors include her children Christopher Thatcher of Ft. Lewis, Wash. and Marissa (Francis Pierre Jr.) Thatcher of Ronan; grandchildren Andrew and Linden and brothers and sisters Ray, Liz, Willie, George, Amy and Linda.
A wake began on Friday in the Longhouse in St. Ignatius with funeral services being held on Saturday in the Longhouse. Burial will follow in Snyelmn Sntmtmne.
Foster Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.
John F. (Jack) Harvey
POLSON — John F. (Jack) Harvey, 87, of Polson, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 24 resulting from an auto accident that occurred on Feb. 20 in Polson.
Jack was born on Nov. 20, 1921, in Butte, to Fred and Gladys Harvey. He attended grade and high school in Butte graduating from Butte High School in 1939. Following graduation in 1943 from Montana School of Mines with a Mining Engineering degree, he immediately was activated in the Army Air Corp and attended officers candidate school at Yale University. As a Second Lt., he met Ruth (Mickie) Sulzbach in Buffalo, N.Y. and after a whirlwind courtship, they were married on Feb. 23, 1945. Jack’s tenure in the armed forces ended in 1947 following 13 months of “fun-in-sun” on the Philippine Islands.
During his formative years, he enjoyed playing the trumpet, hockey in high school and in 1942 was a member of the Mine’s Northwest AAU championship hockey team. Jack became an avid golfer in the mid-60s, which he enjoyed through the late 1990s, was past Exalted Ruler and trustee of the BPOE 240 in Butte, secretary of the Georgetown Boat Club for 21 years founded by his father and President of Montana Tech Alumni Assoc. He was also a long standing member and elder in the Polson First Presbyterian Church.
His greatest passion was boating on the waters of Montana where he returned to Flathead Lake following his retirement from the Anaconda Company after 41 years of employment in 1983. Jack and his team were the original designers of the Berkley Pit that opened in 1953. At retirement, he was Director of Purchasing and Transportation for ARCO located in its Mining Group headquarters in Denver, Colo.
Jack is survived by his beloved wife Mickie of 64 years; son John and wife Colleen, of Denver, Colo. and their son John Alex of Austin, Texas; daughter Janice, of Butte and her daughter, Deanna Johnson and husband Mike and a their son Logan; son Bob McGarry and wife Bobbi; their daughters Arianna and Brianna of Spokane, Wash.; daughter Gayle and her friend Bruce Bertoglio, of Missoula and Gayle’s daughters Jennifer McGovern and husband Aron and children Sydney, Levi, and Simon; Elena Caplis and husband Brian Gregory and son Roam and sister Dylan and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at the Polson First Presbyterian Church at 12:00 Noon on Saturday 28, 2009. Following the service a reception will be held in the fellowship hall.
Memorials may be given to the First Presbyterian Church or the charity of their choice. Arrangements are under the care of Garden City Funeral Home in Missoula.
Bradley P. Heinrich
We all lost a wonderful friend, Brad Heinrich, 66, of Ronan on Thursday, Jan. 15 as a result of a vehicle accident near Perma.
Brad was doing one of the things he really enjoyed, cruising along in his ‘65 ‘Stang.
Brad was born in Seattle, Wash., on Sept. 11, 1942, the son of Leo and Viola Heinrich. It was there he grew to manhood, graduated from Queen Anne High School near Seattle, and learned to love the outdoors. An Army
veteran, Brad received his degree in Forestry from the University of Washington and later attended the University of Montana to receive his teaching endorsement. He then began a wonderful adventure as a teacher in Alaska where he made a host of very special friends, and those bonds endure today. He not only loved teaching in remote locations, he also enjoyed his hands-on experiences working alongside friends in the fishing industry.
After his retirement from teaching, he bought a home near Ronan, but returned to Alaska many times to visit and help his friends. Brad especially enjoyed his time spent at the island cabin he built with his close friend, Earl Jeffrey, after having hauled the building materials from Montana in his Dad’s 1960 Ford pick-up with the homemade topper (AKA the Green Hornet). Brad loved planning his trips to Alaska, and it was amazing at how much thought and organization he put into his travels. His favorite traveling partner was his beloved black lab, Callie, and how his heart was broken when she was killed by a car on Christmas a few years ago.
Brad was always ready for a fishing adventure whether it was in the deep seas of Alaska or a newly discovered fishing hole in Montana. Many, many pleasant hours were spent in his quest for those elusive fish and the stories that came out of those endeavors. He freely expressed his disappointment when friends didn’t take time away from their work to enjoy fishing more.
Anyone who called Brad a friend probably doesn’t know a more kind, loyal and generous man. He truly enjoyed his friendships and would spend most of December making those special Christmas phone calls to each of them or remembering them with gifts from his heart. He always looked out for those less fortunate and down on their luck even when they weren’t aware of it.
The animal world was especially blessed to have Brad in their midst. The stray cats with kittens could find something to eat, the wild turkeys and deer knew where the grain would appear away from the busy road, and his friends’ dogs could always count on rides to the country for swims and lessons in good behavior.
Brad loved good food and was an excellent cook himself. He enjoyed sharing recipes with his friends and going out for a meal especially for a great steak or fresh seafood. He shared hunting trips and tales, drew hilarious cartoons and caricatures, read voraciously, enjoyed videos or movies and never forgot an actor, discussed politics and current events with feeling and listened faithfully to “talk” radio.
Per Brad’s wishes, no formal services will be held and his ashes will be placed alongside those of his parents. His friends are planning a
celebration of Brad’s life to take place in Montana this summer. So we say so long for now, our friend, we’ll see you again on the other side. We are so blessed to have had you in our lives, and you’ll be in our hearts always.
Dorothy Rose Felsman
HOT SPRINGS — Dorothy Rose Felsman, 80, passed away on Feb. 26 at Community Hospital in Missoula.
Born to Henry and Angeline (Matt) Felsman on Nov. 1, 1928, in St. Ignatius, she was a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Dorothy was raised on the Reservation and finished her education at Chemawah. She then returned to Hot Springs where she worked at the Bath House until its closing.
An avid traveler, she enjoyed traveling especially in the Southwest. Dorothy was also a good mechanic as several roadside repair shops found out and she was known to drive to L.A. from Hot Springs in 24 hours in her truck. She also liked to fish, was a terrific cook especially for Mexican food and could crochet.
She is survived by her longtime friend, Ida Trujillo of Hot Springs and several nieces and nephews from the Felsman and Matt families, including Doris Felsman of Ronan.
Visitation was held at the Foster Funeral Home in St. Ignatius on Monday with the Rosary being recited at 7 p.m. on Monday evening at the Funeral Home Chapel. Mass was celebrated at the St. Ignatius Mission on Tuesday. Burial will follow in the St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery.