Robert W. McCallum, 80
Robert W. McCallum, 80, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2006, at the Dialysis Center in Kalispell. He had been a patient there since 1998.
He was born Aug. 13, 1926, in Columbia Falls to Warner and Jessie Gwen (Blackshaw) McCallum. The family moved to Echo Lake when he was 2 years old and later to the Niarada Lonepine area, where he grew up and attended schools.
He worked in sawmills and mines and served in the 2nd Infantry Division in the Army of Occupation in Japan during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1947. He then worked on the Hungry Horse Dam and later the Anaconda Company in Butte and Anaconda.
Bob married Shirley H. Arnold in Salem, Ore., in 1953, and they made their home in Butte. When the Anaconda Company built the aluminum plant in Columbia Falls, they moved to Hungry Horse, and he began work at the aluminum plant in July 1955. He was employed there until his retirement in 1991. He began work as a potman and later became an environmental control operator, a position he held until he retired.
He and Shirley purchased a farm south of Columbia Falls along the Flathead River and moved there in 1962. Farming was always an important and enjoyable part of Bob's life. Over the years, he built and sold two houses and part of his farm. He was always an ardent outdoorsman and made many hunting and fishing trips with his sons. He and his wife made a number of trips, including Australia and Mexico, during his retirement years before he became ill.
Bob was a member of the Columbia Falls Lodge No. 89 AF & AM.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, William McCallum; sisters, Margaret (in infancy), Jessie Cayer, Sharleen Scott, and May June Lesofski; his brothers-in-law, Charles Kelly, Jack Cayer, Lucien Scott and Larry Lesofski; and a daughter-in-law, Sandra McCallum.
Bob is survived by his wife, Shirley, at the family home; sons, Douglas McCallum of Kalispell, Robert J. McCallum and his wife, Sandra, of Kalispell, and Kevin L. McCallum and his wife, Anne, of Columbia Falls; his daughter, Pamela Dagnillo, and her husband, Michael, of Aurora, Colo.; his grandchildren, Joshua Ott and his wife, Alyssa, of Aurora, Brandon Ott of Aurora, Shirley Pate and her husband, Andrew, of Gridley, Calif., Kimberly and Bonnie McCallum of Kalispell, and Jessica, Meghan and Zane McCallum of Columbia Falls; stepgrandson, Tom Dunlap, of Kalispell; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. today, Oct. 27, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls, with the Rev. David Kauffman officiating. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery with military graveside honors.
The family has suggested that memorials be made to the DCI, 135 Commons Way, Kalispell, MT 59901.