Julius 'Jay' Schmeeckle, 85

Julius “Jay” Schmeeckle, 85, “went to be with the Lord” on Sept. 29, 2016, in Kalispell from an unexpected heart complication.

He was born in Stoneham, Colorado, on March 23, 1931, and raised on a farm with three brothers and one sister.

Jay was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1954, attaining the rank of Sergeant First Class. He earned the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

Upon returning home after duty, Jay married Rita Lively and raised three children. He became a master plumber, and it was his life’s work until retirement. Jay was a multi-talented man and was an archaeologist, acquiring a wonderful collection of early man. He made toy cars out of metal to scale, could paint pictures, and he loved auctions and garage sales.

In the late 1970s, Jay moved to Kalispell and built a mobile home court and storage facility. He met and married Beverly (Jensen) Soderstrom in 1983.

Jay was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, one sister and his beautiful daughter, Julie.

He is survived by his wife, Beverly, at the family home in Kalispell; two sons, David Schmeeckle of Kalispell and Darin Schmeeckle of Conifer, Colorado; four stepchildren, Sheryl Soderstrom of Sanders, Arizona, Karen Jam of Sun City West, Arizona, Bill Soderstrom, Jr. of Kalispell, and LeAnn Meadows of Kalispell; and many nieces and nephews living in Colorado and cousins in Kalispell and Bigfork.

A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 3, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home in Kalispell. A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the veterans or a charity of your choice.