Robert 'Bob' E. Gonsior, 77
Robert "Bob" E. Gonsior, 77, of Kalispell passed away Monday, Sept. 24, 2007, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. He was born at home in Carlyle to Thomas a and Helen F. (Dobrowski) Gonsior. The family moved to Kalispell in 1936, and he had made his home here ever since.
He was a lifelong member of St. Matthew's Church.
Bob was a very hard worker from the time he was a child with a paper route and setting pins at the bowling alley as a teen.
He attended grade school at St. Matthew's and high school at Flathead County High School.
He joined the Air Force in his senior year, serving three years in Texas, Newfoundland, Maryland and Mount Home, Idaho. After his military service he returned to high school to earn his diploma. He also served in the National Guard, making his total service 22 years.
While in Newfoundland he was a Boy Scout leader, and when he returned to Kalispell he continued to work with the Boy Scouts.
He worked at the Kalispell Mill, for the Forest Service on a lookout, as a roofer for General Sheet Metal for 20 years, and the last nine years he worked at Kalispell City Hall as a custodian, the job from which he retired in 1992.
Bob married Lorraine Fuhrmann-Turner on Dec. 29, 1975, at St. Matthew's Church.
Bob was an Eagle member for 44 years. He was always helping at the Eagles, such as fixing the roof, helping with dinners, the children's parties and marching in the drill team. He also was an officer for many years. The past few years he could not do as much but still liked to help, so he filled the sugars, creamers, salt and peppers and wiped them off. He also enjoyed decorating for the different seasons and the holidays.
Bob and his wife enjoyed traveling to Eagles conventions. One took them to Buffalo, N.Y., where they went to Niagara Falls. They also took many other trips, including one to Hawaii.
The past 19 years they entertained many people at various functions, including nursing homes, Climb the Big Mountain, children's parties, and special events at the Eagles as Dozo and Gozo the Clowns.
Bob loved fishing with his wife. And they went as often as he could until his health got bad.
He loved making "Belly Button Brushes" and giving them away just to see the smiles on people faces. His motto was, "Life is not worth while if you can not smile at least once a day."
He loved working in the garden and helping with the canning. He loved roses, moon flowers and petunias.
He is preceded in death by his parents; and three stepgrandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Lorraine Gonsior, of Kalispell; one stepson, James Sergent, of Orlando, Fla; three stepdaughters, Beverly Janson of Missoula, Lillie Cox of Frasier, and Sally Tribby of Glasgow; 15 stepgrandchildren; 16 step great-grandchildren; four sisters, Genevieve Barry and husband, Ralph, of Kalispell, Betty Dahler and husband, Lloyd, of Dacula, Ga., Joan Neils and husband, Vincent, of Libby, and Rosemary Forsyth of Kila; and many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian burial for Robert will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 1, at St. Matthew's Catholic Church. Visitation has taken place. There will be a rosary said at 5:30 p.m. today in the Johnson Mortuary chapel.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Bob's family. You are invited to go to www.johnsonmortuary.com to offer condolences and sign Bob's guest book.
This paid obituary is being run again at the request of the family.