John Janetski

John Bain Janetski died Aug. 17, 2004, in his home in Eureka.

John was born April 9, 1925, in Great Falls, where he was schooled and raised by Paul and Pearl Janetski.

John was so eager to serve his country in World War II that he lied about his age and joined the Marine Corps when he was 16 years of age. He fought in the Pacific Theater, which included a beach-head landing in Guam and the Marianas Islands and later patrol duty on Guam. John was honorably discharged due to the cessation of the war.

He returned to the states and married Ethel West, his loving wife of 52 years and beloved mother of their three sons. John faithfully provided for his family through the cement-finishing trade and in later years owned and operated a successful building center in Eureka.

After attending to Ethel day and night for many months, John lost his precious wife to bone cancer in August 1999. In 2000, John married Beverly Wilson, who at that time had experienced the loss of her husband, and for the past four years they have enjoyed one another's friendship and company.

Tragically, John and Ethel lost George, their eldest son, to a logging accident on Nov. 4, 1968.

Survivors include his two sons, Mike and Jack Janetski, eight grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

A graveside service was held Aug. 20, 2004, at Woodlawn Cemetery, where he was laid to rest next to his wife, Ethel. Friends and family gathered to bid John "so long" until that "great gettin' up morning."