Edgar E. Sirucek, 87

The best Dad, Grampie and husband “finished his work on this earth and began his new life with our Lord.” Edgar E. Sirucek passed away on Sunday morning, Sept. 8, 2013, at Prestige Assisted Living after a courageous battle with a brain tumor.

He was a native Montanan, born at home in Danver on April 11, 1926, the second child of 13 to Emil and Rose (Kasala) Sirucek, who were immigrants from Czechoslovakia. Ed was the first son of a farmer, and from a very young age he developed a love for farming and animals. When he was young, the Sirucek family moved frequently and many times Ed was needed on the farm and missed out on school. So he taught himself to read and was able to graduate from the eighth grade. He lived mostly in Eastern Montana, before settling in the St. Ignatius-Ronan area in his late teens.

Edgar joined the Army in October 1946 to 1948. During the Japanese occupation he was sent to Japan where he was valuable in communications because he could speak some foreign language due to his Czechoslovakian upbringing.

When Edgar came home he met Carola Mann on a blind date, and they were married on June 9, 1952, in Bismarck, N.D. He also was baptized, confirmed and received first communion that same day. His faith was a very important part of how he lived. To him it was simple — like most of his life he didn't preach it, he just lived it. Ed and Carola's first years of marriage were spent in the St. Ignatius-Ronan area, then in Creston. Later they settled as a family in the Swan River community north of Bigfork, where they started and operated the Green Valley Dairy from 1959 to 1972. For 14 years he never missed a milking. Dean, Diane, Becky and Rene were all born and raised on the dairy farm.

In the 1970s Ed established the Swan River Tree Farm where he raised plantation and Christmas trees. He sometimes trucked his trees as far away as Texas. In the 1980s, with his daughter Becky, he started a new venture, the Green Valley Sod Farm. The sod farm is all on the original homestead, and he stayed actively involved in all the operation until age 85 when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. That fall he still combined his last crop of barley, his "Final Harvest."

Ed was an active part of the Swan River community for 52 years. He served on the Swan River School board and helped build the first gym and the existing new playground. He also served on the Tree Association board, the Dairyman's Association, the Flathead Conservation District, and was a Farmer's Union board member for 45 years.

Ed and Carola enjoyed their retirement years in Arizona where he would shoot pool with his buddies and play bingo with the gals even if he never won because "They got the lucky cards." Some of his favorite times included fishing in Alaska and watching his granddaughter's sports events. Even after Ed lost his sight he still went and sat in the bleachers waiting for the results of some of his granddaughter's races.

He was known as Edgar to his brothers and sisters, Ed to his wife of 62 years, Eddy to his son-in-law Bret, Grampie to his children and grandchildren, and friend to all, because he never knew a stranger. Ed's teasing and his mischievous grin were well known to all! Some of his happiest days were spent playing with the kids and dogs in his life, and his new great-grandson.

From Grampie’s kids: "We were blessed to have such an amazing father — Not all kids can say that ... but we really did have the best dad ever!"

Edgar was preceded in death by his father, Emil Sirucek; his mother, Rose (Kasala) Sirucek; sister, Agnes Sirucek; brothers, Bill Sirucek, Emil Jr. Sirucek, Jack Sirucek and George Sirucek; and sister, Shirley O'Lexey.

Edgar is survived by his wife, Carola; his children, Dean Sirucek and wife Lois, Diane Johnson and husband Eric, Becky Hughes and husband Bret, and Rene' Sock and husband Tom; brothers and sisters, Ruby Smith, Marie Reed, Carl Sirucek, Betty Ferry, Genevieve Baumann and Donald Sirucek; grandchildren, Stephanie Arnlund and husband Alijah, Maggie Rose Sirucek, Breanna Hughes and Bailey Hughes; and great-grandchild Aiden Arnlund.

Rosary will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 12. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m. Thursday at Blessed John Paul II Catholic Church in Bigfork, with Monsignor Donald Shea. A luncheon will be provided following the service. Private burial will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please send any donations to one of Ed's favorite charities, Raising a Saint Foundation at St. Matthew’s School Scholarship, or Wings.