Walter Calvin Gainan
courtesy photo
Walter Gainan
Walter Calvin Gainan, 70, a lifelong Ronan area resident, passed away at his home on Jan. 29, 2014.
Walt was born on Nov. 7, 1943 in Laurin, Mont., to the late Melvin and Myrtle (Coad) Gainan. The Gainan family relocated to Ronan in 1945, where Walt was raised and educated. He graduated from Ronan High School in 1962, and later on in his life he completed a Bachelor’s Degree at Montana Tech in Butte.
At age 18, Walt enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After serving honorably and proudly in Vietnam and in the United States Marine Corps, he came back to Montana and went to work in the oil fields of Eastern Montana. It was there that he met Judy LaBelle. Walt and Judy were married in 1969 and had three children. While their marriage wasn’t meant to be, Walt kept a quiet presence in his children’s lives. He was very proud of everything that they had done and often kept pictures and newspaper clippings of their accomplishments.
Walt had an extensive professional life outside of the Marine Corps that included being an NCO TAC Officer for the Montana Military Academy and a Draftsman for Civil Service. He also worked for the BIA, for the Lake County Weed Control, and for the Pablo Sewer and Water District. At the time of his death he was retired.
Walt was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Philip Wayne Gainan, Melvin (Woody) Gainan, and Louis Gainan, and his sister Georgia (Monte) Wickenhagen.
He leaves behind his children, Jodi Gainan George of Billings, Mont., Shawn Gainan of Wibaux, Mont., and Shane (Tina Michelle) Gainan of Sanford, NC; two sisters, Wilma (Herb) Bick of Ronan, Mont. and Pudge (Tom) Williams of Butte, Mont.; one brother Joe (Jan) Gainan of Charlo, Mont.; four grandsons, Alex Gainan, Ian Gainan, and Sean Gainan of Sanford, NC and Jacob George of Billings, Mont.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held at the Missoula Veteran’s Cemetery at 1911 Tower Road, Missoula, Mont., on Wednesday February 12, 2014 at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at the VFW Club in Ronan at 2 p.m. that afternoon.
