Wayne Van Voast
Wayne Van Voast of Helena and Butte, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004.
Wayne was the son of Milo and Dollie Van Voast of Helena and was a graduate of Helena Senior High School in 1956.
A memorial service honoring Wayne will be held at St. Paul's United Methodist Church at 505 Logan in Helena on Monday, Dec. 20, at 1 p.m.
Wayne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth sciences in 1961, and a Master of Science degree in geomorphology in 1964 from Montana State University. Wayne's passion, intuition, and talent for geology earned him respect and international recognition during a rich, rewarding career which included work for the United States Geological Survey in St. Paul, Minn., and most recently as the chief of research division for the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology in Butte.
Wayne's recent accomplishments and recognitions include the 2004 Water Legend Award where he was cited as the Father of Montana Coal Hydrogeology from the American Water Resources Association, the Distinguished Researcher Award for lifetime excellence in research from Montana Tech, and was published by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists in 2003 for his research on Geochemical signature of formation waters associated with coalbed methane. Throughout his career, he wrote 40 publications on hydrology, co-wrote college textbooks and was referenced as an expert in many other writings.
As a scientist, adventurer, poet, and fisherman he found pride and joy in all aspects of his life. Wayne was a big man in all the best ways, in intelligence, in dedication, in humor, in integrity and in warmth. During his life he traveled to many countries including Poland and Russia during the height of the Cold War as a member of an international delegation of scientists. Wayne's favorite destinations included Campbell River on Vancouver Island for salmon fishing and Puerta Penasco, Mexico, for solace, relaxation, and fresh shrimp.
Wayne loved, married and was subsequently divorced from JoAnn Hanson (mother of his sons) and Judy McKenna. During the later years of his life he found Carol Cooper Ferguson, who became his beloved and trusted partner in life.
He is survived by his two sons, Brett Van Voast of Bakersfield, Calif., and Todd Van Voast of San Francisco; and by his brother's family, Greg and Doris Van Voast of Helena, and their sons, Sheldon, Jeff, and Kenneth. Wayne is also survived by numerous cousins and by an extended family of longtime, much valued friends and colleagues. He was loved and will be dearly missed by all.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Wayne's name to the St. Paul's United Methodist Church Building Fund, 505 Logan, Helena, MT 59601.
Arrangements are being cared for by Retz Funeral Home in Helena.