Jacob Edmund Shawback, 91

Jacob Edmund Shawback, 91, passed away on July 11, 2019, at his home in Kalispell.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, at Central Bible Church, 902 1st Avenue E., Kalispell. Jacob always wanted to go to college so he made the decision to donate his body to science.

Jacob, also known as Jake to his friends and Johnny to his family, was born on March 11, 1928, to Edmund and Marie (Walgenbach) Shawback, in Streator, Illinois. He married Mimi Croissant on Feb. 27, 1953, and raised four children, Larry, Davy, Diana and Michael Jon. Jacob worked at Del Monte in Mendota, Illinois, for nearly 20 years before opening Jake’s TV and Appliance, first in Mendota and then later an additional store in DeKalb, Illinois. In 1974, he added the sale of firearms and ammunition to his business. He enjoyed trap shooting, building a range on his property that was used by many. Jacob enjoyed his travels to various places within the United States and abroad. In 1984, he and Mimi retired and relocated to Kalispell. Jacob loved farming, flying, hunting, fishing, gardening and telling stories. He was a dog’s best friend and loved by the likes of Shorty, Bolognie, Chachi, Ande, Jake, Ruger, Casey, Charley and Alaska.

Jacob is survived by his wife of 66 years, four months and 15 days, Mimi; three children, Dave (Lois) Shawback of Kalispell, Diana (Kurt) Ryll of Kalispell, and Michael Jon (Mariko) Shawback of Otsu, Japan; and sister, Beverly Delman, 92, of Chicago. Dave and Lois Shawback are the parents of two sons, Dallas (Anya) and Logan (Andrea), grandchildren Tyler, Addison, Davis, Daniel, Isaac, Aaron, Michael and LilliAnn, all of Kalispell, and four exchange students and four grandchildren from Brazil, Antonio (Ana Claudia) Antero and daughters Maria and Ester, Carlos (Luana) Antero and son Nicolas, Ligia (Diogo) Ridolfi and son Bento, and Sarah Albuquerque. Diana and Kurt Ryll of Kalispell are the parents of Amelia of Scottsville, Kentucky, and Albrecht of Indianapolis, Indiana. Michael Jon and Mariko are the parents of Jacob and Emily, all of Otsu, Japan; Alysia of Lebanon, Ohio, is the daughter of Michael Jon and Kazumi Osugi. Larry was the father of three daughters, Natasha, Melissa and Kayla who live in Oregon along with their mother Sherry.

Jacob was preceded in death by his parents, son Larry, and great-grandson Landon.

So many wonderful things could be said about Jacob. One source of great pride was his many namesakes, son Michael Jon, grandsons Dallas Jacob, Logan Jacob, and Jacob Eisuke, great-grandsons Daniel Jacob and Tyler Jacob, and friends Jacob Croissant, Jacob Franklin, and Matthew Jacob Thompson.

Charitable donations in Jacob’s name can be made to the Flathead County Animal Shelter, 1035 1st Ave. West, Kalispell, MT 59901, or Stillwater Christian School, 255 FFA Drive Kalispell, MT 59901.