John Nicholas Palakovich, Jr.
On October 22, John Palakovich, 94, passed away in Billings, MT while recovering from an injury.
John was born in Anaconda on December 3, 1929, to John Nicholas Palakovich, Sr. and Helen Veronica (Laslovich) Palakovich. He was the fifth of eight children. The family lived in a small three bedroom house in Goosetown that had only one bathroom. Their morning routine to get everyone ready for school during the week, and mass on Sundays, must have been something to behold.
John attended St. Paul’s school and graduated from Anaconda Central High School in 1948. After high school, he spent one year studying at Carroll College in Helena, MT before leaving to serve his country in the Army during the Korean War. After being discharged from the Army, he returned to Anaconda, where he lived for the remainder of his life. He worked at the Anaconda smelter for several years, and later joined the Deer Lodge County road department, where he worked as a heavy equipment operator until his retirement in 1989.
On June 1, 1957, he married Janice Higgins of Anaconda. They were married for 60 years, until Janice’s passing in 2017. They had two children, Julie and Jim, and together they were affectionately known as the “Four J’s”. The family spent their summers at their cabin at Georgetown lake, typically having large family gatherings for Independence Day and Labor Day. John was also active in the Army National Guard, and was a master marksman who participated in rifle matches that took him to all of the 48 continental states. He achieved the honor of being named to the President’s 100 list of elite marksmen.
After retirement, his life became the envy of any outdoor sportsman. He spent his summers fishing in Alaska, returning to Anaconda in the fall in time for hunting season, followed by ice fishing on Georgetown lake in the winter. He also spent several weeks during the holidays every year baking “povitica”, making as many as 60 per year, which he sent to family and friends. To celebrate his 80th birthday, he traveled to Hawaii with the family, accomplishing the step of visiting all 50 states.
John was an active member of the Anaconda Catholic Community, attending daily mass, serving as a lector and eucharistic minister, working bereavement luncheons, and cooking for passover dinners. His faith in God was strong and pivotal to his life. He is survived by his children, Julie and Jim (Sandy), granddaughters Sarah (Thomas) and Ellie, brother Frank (Ann), and sisters Margaret and Dorothy (Tom), and numerous nieces and nephews.
Celebration of Life services will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Anaconda, at 10:30 am. The family will receive family and friends starting at 9:30 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Anaconda Catholic Community, or Hospice services of your choice.
Please visit www.longfellowfinneganriddle.com to offer the family condolences or to share a memory of John.