John Leo Sladich

John Leo Sladich

John Leo Sladich passed away peacefully in the Community Nursing Home of Anaconda on Friday after a two year battle with Pancreatic cancer. John Leo was born on Mother’s Day, May 10, 1942, the youngest son of Joseph and Caroline (Hamill) Sladich. He lived his entire life in the same house.

He was known by his first and middle name due to there being other Johns in the family. He attended St. Paul’s grade school and graduated from Anaconda Central High School with the class of 1960. He worked for Ossello’s Appliance during and after high school and still has the clothes dryer that he purchased during that time. He went on to work for the Anaconda Company from 1961 until the smelter closure in 1980. He then worked for his brother Larry Sladich in the family business, Sladich’s Plastering and Concrete. The roots of the family business can be traced back to 1890 in Anaconda. From there he went on to have a distinguished career as a cook for the National Guard. At his retirement ceremony a Major General was there to present the award and per an Anaconda Leader article covering the event, the general said “John has been a special soldier for the Montana National Guard for 33 years. “As the finest mess steward in the Montana National Guard, he’s always been there when we needed him, ready to serve the nation and the state.” At that time he received the Meritorious Service Medal, certificates of recognition and appreciation from then Montana Governor and President Bill Clinton. John was quoted as saying the “highlight of his career came with his promotion to State Headquarters in Helena in June 1979, after serving 15 years in Anaconda. While in Helena, he designed and developed a dining facility that enabled the unit to serve as many as 400 people. When he retired in 1998 he started his final job with the ALDC Parks and Recreation and continued there until he was persuaded to retire in January of 2024 for health reasons.

John Leo wasn’t a 9 to 5, Monday through Friday employee while he worked for Parks and Recreation. As Director of Parks and Recreation he worked 24/7 all days of the week. His dedication was unmatched and he could be found checking on the pool and doing maintenance at night and on the weekends. He plowed the walking trails and city streets around the Commons and other parks on a daily basis if there was snow on the ground. He had a great relationship with his employees and the public. John Leo was also a member of the Anaconda

Catholic Community where he shared his culinary skills by helping prepare the traditional Passover dinner and soup and bread meals during lent. He was a member of the Anaconda Hibernians and the Anaconda Gun Club. In his younger years he shot trap, reloaded bullets and attended gun shows throughout the state. He also had a great love for dogs although he never had one of his own. John Leo is preceded in death by his mother and father, older brothers and sister in laws Joe (Annabelle), Harry (Marguerite), Maryanne Sladich and cousin Francis (Tash) (wife Nancy) Mc Mahon who was raised with him like a brother and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides. He is survived by his brother Larry and nieces and nephews Theresa (Bob) Orrino, Joe (Eileen) Sladich, Mary Anne (Reg) Sladich-Lantz, Larry Sladich, Teena Boyer, Harry (Shawn) Sladich, Jennifer (Salvador) Piani, Suzanne (Scott) Huetmaker along with great nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank all those who came to visit John Leo in his final months and provide him company and treats which he loved. A big thank you to the dedicated staff of the Community Nursing Home whose personalized care made life richer in his final 5 months. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, June 6th at 10:30 a.m. at the Holy Family Church. Please visit www.longfellowfinneganriddle.com to offer a condolence or to share a memory of John.