John Hunsucker
POLSON – John Hunsucker, 88, of Polson, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at his home of natural causes.
John was born to William Avery and Nora Elizabeth Isenhower Hunsucker on the Hunsucker homestead near Buffalo, S.D. on Sunday of October 22, 1922, the fifth of eight children. He attended school in Buffalo and graduated in 1942. After graduation he enlisted into the Army on Sept. 30, 1942 and served in the South Pacific during WWII.
After the war, John worked his way to the west coast picking up odd jobs as he went. He ended up in Eugene, Ore., working for Lane Plywood for 12 years. While in Eugene he met and married Dolores Schmakeit on June 28, 1947 and the couple shared 61 years of marriage before her passing in December 2008.
From their union came five children: Donna, Patricia, Janet, John Jr., and Paul. He was blessed to have seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. His wife, Dolores, daughter, Donna, great granddaughter, Emmaleigh Ann, one brother and three sisters have preceded him in death.
After having health problems due to the climate in western Oregon, he returned to ranching in Tumalo, Ore., and from there he and his family moved to Union, Ore., then to the KM Ranch in Whitefish and finally to Polson in 1969. He sold the ranch in 1993 to his son, Paul, but continued to raise wheat and hay on his own 80 acres right up to his death. He prided himself on changing irrigation pipe for 41 years. His aversion for weeds was a battle that kept him occupied right to the end.
John worked hard all of his life but enjoyed hunting, fishing, and hiking. He shot his last buck when he was 87 and his last elk when he was 81, and when younger, caught many steelheads off the Oregon coast. He had a great love for the Lord and expressed it by faithful attendance at church, prayer and personal Bible study.
Cremation has taken place before a memorial service held on Saturday, Jan. 15, at the Pablo Church of the Nazarene. Burial of John’s ashes next to his wife, Dolores, occurred prior to the service at Lakeview Cemetery, Polson.
Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com. The staff of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson, considers it a privilege to care for Mr. Hunsucker’s family.
