John Ortiz, 57

Our amazing John "went peacefully to be with God" in the early morning of Monday, Aug. 17, 2009, after courageously battling pancreatic cancer for one and a half years. John grew up in Victoria, Texas, where he knew from a young age, living with discrimination and tough times, that he wanted to be a police officer. He desired to be able to make a positive difference in people's lives.

John put himself through the Police Academy, worked for a year with the Broadwater County Sheriff's Office, then was hired by the Kalispell Police Department where he worked for 17 years until his death. He was dedicated to his job, his law enforcement family, and was determined to work as long as God would allow him.

John proudly received a Life Saving Award, Fred Award this past spring and the Officer of the Year Award this past July 16th.

John loved his family deeply.

He is survived by his loving wife, Joy; his sisters, Katy, Gloria and Lynn, and his brother, Joe David, all living in Texas, along with his mother, Helen; three sons, John Paul, Chad and Brock, now living in California, and two daughters, Elena and Sunny, who live in Montana; also four grandchildren in Montana, Keegan, Jena, Mattie and Jaden, and one granddaughter, Taylor, in California. He has numerous other wonderful relatives and friends that will all miss his loving, caring and funny personality. He will live on in everyone's hearts, as he touched so many lives in his short time here on earth.

A memorial service for John will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Christian Center. Everyone is welcome to come and celebrate the life John lived and loved so much.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family. Please go to www.Buffalohillfh.com to sign John's book or leave a personal message.