Robert W. Stack, 94

Robert Worden “Bob” Stack, 94, of Kalispell passed peacefully surrounded by his family on Dec. 2, 2017 after a brief illness. He was born to James Watson Stack and Ethel Lucile Worden Stack on May 26, 1923 in Cut Bank, Mont, and graduated from Cut Bank High School in 1941. Bob was attending the University of Washington when duty to country called. As did many of the “Greatest Generation,” he delayed his future plans and enlisted in the U.S. Army on Aug. 26, 1943 in Seattle. After basic training Bob was posted to Camp Gruber (Ft. Sill) Okla. for training as an artillery battery surveyor. From there he was assigned to Headquarters Battery, Division Artillery, 42nd Rainbow Division which was deploying to the European Theater of Operations. Bob joined the theater through southern France on Jan. 18, 1945, campaigning through the Alsace region into the Rhineland and Austria as the war ended. He then spent the rest of his active duty with occupation forces stationed at Salzburg, Austria. It was during this time that Bob learned to ski at St. Moritz, and skiing remained a passion throughout his life.

Bob was awarded the WWII Victory Medal, EAME Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and most notably, the Bronze Star Medal for his highly effective operation of the battery fire direction center which resulted in heavy enemy losses. Bob was given an honorable discharge at the rank of Master Sergeant on April 5, 1946 at Fort Dix, N.J.

After leaving the service, Bob resumed his education at the University of Colorado, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology in 1948. It was at a college dance where he met and fell in love with Joan Lucile Jensen, and they married in March of his senior year.

In 1948, Bob began training at Carter Oil as a geologist, and subsequently moved to their headquarters in Urbana, Ill.s where he worked as a geographic surveyor/mapper. His love of geology continued throughout his life, and he couldn’t resist educating his children on the beautiful geological formations of Glacier National Park.

Bob made the decision to move his young family back to Cut Bank in 1952, where he began working with his father in construction. When his father became ill, he took over building the new Cut Bank High School gym - which had a seating capacity near 5,000 and was reported at the time to be the largest high school gym west of the Mississippi River.

While creating many homes throughout Cut Bank, Bob started Cut Bank Building Service, providing a Home Depot experience back in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Bob also served as a church elder, chairman of the building committee for the Presbyterian Church, and president of the hospital board.

Bob and Joan loved the Flathead Valley through their winter family ski adventures. For many years they enjoyed their summer home on Whitefish Lake, and after retiring in 1975, they moved to Kalispell. As Bob told his son, “The Flathead Valley is a very special place.” Bob was a member of the Presbyterian Church and served nine years on the Kalispell Regional Hospital Board.

He was a long-time member of the Buffalo Hill Golf Course, and skied on Big Mountain into his 80s. Bob and Joan loved traveling, and their adventures took them all over the world. Cruises and expeditions included Machu Picchu, Vietnam, Australia, Eastern Europe and Russia to name just a few, along with many hikes to Granite Park and Sperry Chalets in Glacier National Park.

Bob loved his children and grandchildren deeply and he would go to great lengths to entertain them. Pirates and elaborate scavenger hunts were often involved. He taught his children to ski on Big Mountain when the only lifts were a T-bar and rope tow in the 1950s, and he was always willing to pull them behind the boat on Whitefish Lake during the summer – sometimes on water skis and sometimes on a homemade wooden saucer. Family and friends looked forward to summer when Bob would grow the best ears of corn ever known to man.

Bob was so proud of his daughters and son, and was a mentor to his family, helping them design and build their own homes, and usually installing the plumbing himself. If ever you had a question or a problem, Dad was there to help out.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his two sisters, Ruth Phenicie and Miriam Silta. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Joan; children, Catherine (and Doug) Hetrick, James (and Lisa) Stack, and Laurie Stack (and Spencer Arnot); grandchildren, Christopher (and Kali) Hetrick and Libby (and Matt) Smith; and great-grandchildren, Andrew and Aurora Hetrick, and Tristan and Riley Smith. He is also survived by nieces and nephews, Virginia Phenicie Thilmany, Maureen Phenicie Humes, Kevin Jensen and Chris Jensen.

The family is very grateful for the loving attention Bob received over the past several years at Buffalo Hill Terrace. Bob Stack will be remembered as a man of integrity, and his wisdom, mischievous sense of humor, and kind smile will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

A memorial celebration of Bob’s life will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 18 in the Buffalo Room at Buffalo Hill Terrace, 40 Claremont Street, Kalispell, with Pastor Larry Stappler officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Buffalo Hill Terrace of Kalispell, or a charity of your choice. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family.