Ivan Andrew Windsheimer, 91

Ivan Andrew Windsheimer was born Dec. 1, 1920, in Gurley, Neb., and passed away on March 11, 2012, in Kalispell.

Ivan was the oldest of 12 children born to Fredrick and Helen Dykman Windsheimer.

 His paternal grandparents, Michael Andrew and Margaret Long Windsheimer, were both born in Germany and came to the United States in the 1850s.

 Ivan was a machinist mate 2nd class in the Navy.

He married Mary Ellen McCall in 1944 at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Chicago. Ivan and Mary lived in Washington and Montana most of their married life. Ivan worked as a dairyman and had his own herd near Arlington, Wash., for many years. He moved his family to Kalispell in 1964 to manage the Grosswiler dairy, which was the largest dairy in the state at the time. He later worked for Plum Creek in Kalispell, from which he retired. Ivan dismantled a cabin in Glacier Park and eventually rebuilt it in Polebridge, where he and Mary spent much time and made many close friends over the years.

 Ivan was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, in 1993; oldest son, Ivan “Pete” in 2008; three brothers; two sisters; and one grandchild.

He is survived by four brothers; two sisters; four children, Sam, Mike, Patti Lingle, and Larry; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

 A graveside memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 7, at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell.