Joseph Sankovic
Joseph R. Sankovic, 81, passed away Oct. 28, 2006, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
He was born Feb. 14, 1925, in Redstone Township near Pittsburgh, the son of Joseph William and Christine (Voytask) Sankovic.
His family background was Croatian (Montenegren). He would tell friends that he was not "born" but merely "issued" into life.
Joe was professionally a soldier and a graduate civil engineer. When World War II commenced, Joe left high school in his junior year and enlisted in military service with the U.S. Army on his 18th birthday.
He was deployed to the Pacific Theater with a combat infantry unit that also included heavy construction companies. Among other activities, he helped to build airstrips and communication centers in remote areas of the Pacific. He was actively involved in combat at Luzon and in New Guinea and received a commission as a regular Army lieutenant.
He was credited with downing a Japanese Zero fighter that flew over his .50-caliber Browning machine gun on the perimeter of a jungle airstrip. When hostilities ceased in 1945, Joe remained in Japan to assist with rebuilding of new infrastructure projects.
After was service, Joe returned to Pittsburgh where he finished high school and then attended the University of Pittsburgh, receiving a degree in civil and mining engineering-magna cum laude. He moved to Butte in the early 1950s and worked in underground mining until the 1960s. He then went to work for the U.S. Forest Service and relocated to the Kalispell office, where he remained until his retirement in 1987.
Within the last three weeks, Joe spent special time shooting and camping at Spotted Bear with close friends, doing what he loved.
He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Beverly Sankovic, of Kalispell; his son Michael Sankovic, of Mililani, Hawaii; his daughters Ruth Grecco and husband Tom, of South Hampton, N.J., Patty Fisher and husband Phil, of Kalispell, Pamela Berry and husband Buzz, of Kalispell, and Paula Mattern and husband Brian, of Columbia Falls; his mother Christine Sankovic; his brother Ed Sankovic and wife Marion; his sisters Connie Sankovic and Helen Warren and husband Robert, both of Pennsylvania; his brother-in-law John West, of Pennsylvania; 16 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial services for Joseph were held Oct. 31, 2006, at the First Baptist Church in Kalispell, with Pastor Jim Sandholdt officiating. Urn burial followed at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery, where bagpipes played and full military honors were conducted by the United Veterans of the Flathead.
The family suggests that any memorial contributions be sent to the Ronald McDonald House, P.O. Box 1119, Missoula MT 59806; or First Baptist Church, 301 West Wyoming, Kalispell MT 59901.