Anthony 'Tony' Pepe, 83

Anthony “Tony” Pepe, 83, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013, at Health Center Northwest in Kalispell. 

Tony was born in Anaconda on Dec. 29, 1929, to Louis and Carmela. 

His first language was Italian, and he always had a deep respect and appreciation for his Italian roots.  He was the oldest of three children, a brother Albert and a sister Genevieve. 

He attended Anaconda schools and took education seriously, played all sports and still found plenty of time for his share of “high jinks” Anaconda style. Upon graduation he received a journalism scholarship to the University of Montana but decided to “make his way in the world,” and started a career with the Woolworth Company.

He quickly advanced to assistant manager position and in 1949, moved to Kalispell where during a bowling tournament he met a spunky young lady named Colleen Olson. They soon married and “bowled together” for 61 years until Colleen’s death in 2011. They raised three children, Valli, Melanie and Ralph.

After managing Woolworth stores for a number of years, in order to permanently reside in the Flathead, Tony became manager for Adkins Lakewood Center, then owned and operated Eagle Shoe Co. until 1980, when he founded Pepe Insurance Agency. Working with his clients was his passion and he took their concerns and needs to heart.

Tony loved to fly fish and watching him cast a fly was as beautiful as in “A River Runs Through It.”  He would hike anywhere and everywhere to catch a trout. Tony was a hunter, even though he used a lot more shells than Colleen, with those “running head shots,” and would have greatly benefited from GPS technology.

Tony was such an amazing baseball player he had the opportunity to join the farm team for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the early 1950’.  While he always said he didn’t head out for Spring Training because it wasn’t the New York Yankees who called him, he chose to stay close to his young, growing family. Tony continued his love of sports by coaching pee wee baseball, church basketball league, and coached girls’ basketball for Trinity Lutheran School when granddaughters Megan and Melissa were players. He was an avid fan of the Anaconda Copperheads, Flathead Braves, Carroll College Saints, University of Montana Grizzlies, The New York Yankees and Boise State and Notre Dame football.

Tony exemplified community service through many years of belonging to the local Elks Club, and Evergreen and Sunrisers Lions clubs. He held many offices with the Lions and served as Evergreen Lions Club president and deputy district governor, which was an international district including areas of Alberta, Canada. Tony made many lifelong Canadian friends, and always took his family to the many conferences and conventions. He was actively involved with his church community and enjoyed serving on Calvary Lutheran Church’s Council.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents, brother and loving wife. 

He is survived by his sister, Genevieve and Richard Barge of Georgetown, Texas; his children, Valli and Richard Ostrem of Kalispell, Melanie and Alex Parkhurst of Columbia Falls, and Ralph and Holly Pepe of Boise, Idaho; grandchildren, Megan Pepe and Joel Welle of Kalispell, Melissa and Shay Evanoff of Kalispell, Lindsy and David Baird of Boise, Chris and Natasha Ostrem of Kalispell, and Harry Ostrem of Los Angeles; and great-grandchildren, Ward and Walker Evanoff, Luca Welle, and Coleman and Caden Baird.

A memorial service will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Evergreen.

 Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Tony’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Tony’s guest book, offer condolences and share memories.