Joseph Potoczny, 86

 Beloved husband, father and grandfather Joseph Potoczny, 86, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013, of natural causes. Joe was born on Feb. 4, 1927, in Aliquippa, Penn., to Ignatz and Frances (Dydek) Potoczny. Joe spoke only Polish until he started elementary school and continued to attend Polish school on Saturdays in addition to his traditional schooling during the week.

In 1944, Joe began his service in the U.S. Navy. He was a veteran of World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946. He joined the U.S. Navy Reserve, serving until 1954.  

Joe was a well-educated man and attended college on the G.I. Bill. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Shippensburg University and later a Master of Arts in geography from Ohio State University. He later did advance graduate work in school administration at the University of Montana. While in college, Joe spent his summers working at the Jones and Laughlin Steel Mill in Pennsylvania and hitchhiking and working across the United States. Having fallen in love with Montana at a young age, he decided when he was in the sixth grade that he would someday live in the Flathead Valley.

Joe taught and coached in Pennsylvania, Idaho and Washington before settling in Montana. Joe was a teacher and administrator for the Bigfork School District for the last 20 years of his teaching career as well as being the head football coach at Bigfork High School. He also started the track program in Bigfork. He will always be known for being tough but also honest, fair and caring.

For 16 summers, Joe headed the trail crews on the Swan District of the Flathead Forest while working for the U.S. Forest Service. He also fought many forest fires during those years.

Joe married Nancy Hughes in 1967 in Kalispell. They were married for 46 years and raised their family in Bigfork. Both being educators, their home was always filled with books and their children all still love the joy of reading.

While in junior high school in Aliquippa, Joe was one of six boys who, with their teacher, started the first school conservation hunting and fishing club in the United States. He was a charter member of this organization and continued working with conservation projects and activities throughout his life.

Joe was instrumental in starting the Ferndale Fire Department and worked with the department for many years. He was a charter member of the Flathead chapter of Trout Unlimited and taught fly fishing and fly tying to hundreds of students of all ages. An avid fly fisherman, Joe knew the streams, rivers and lakes of the Northwest well. He loved fishing, camping and hiking and especially loved spending time in Glacier National Park and Jewel Basin. Additionally, he loved documenting his trips through his enjoyment of photography and the many sketches he created.

Joe was a founder and charter member of Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Ferndale.

Joe’s love of nature, family, sports, cribbage, his dogs and Polish music made him the man he was. 

Joe is survived by his wife Nancy, children Zoe (Kenneth) Timmons of Raleigh, N.C., Carolyn (Scott Clark) Peters of Billings, Molly (Keith) Johnson of Billings, Joseph (Lea) Potoczny of Great Falls and Sarah Potoczny of San Francisco, as well as nine grandchildren, who will all dearly miss their “Papa Joe.” He is also survived by his sister Josephine (Clarence) Kuzma and brother Martin “Turk” Potoczny, all of Aliquippa, Penn., sisters-in-law Patty Nagel and Mary Janet (Garth) Skaar and numerous nieces and nephews.  

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, one sister-in-law and one brother-in-law.

Joe’s funeral service with Requiem Eucharist will be held on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 2 p.m. at Christ Church Episcopal in Kalispell. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Ferndale, the Ferndale Fire Department, or the Bigfork Fire Department and QRU.