Voyo 'Joe' Jovanovich, 90

He was born in Bear Creek, Mont., Feb. 29, 1920, and died at home in Hayden, on May 22, 2010. “Joe” was the third son of the 12 children of Rado and Elinka Jovanovich, who immigrated to Montana from Montenegro (Yugoslavia) in the 1910s.

Like so many children of immigrant Norwegian, Finish, Irish, Slavic, Italian, Scottish and others who came from Europe to the area near Red Lodge, Mont., to work in the coal mines there, Joe learned to speak English in grade school. He was the first of his family to attend and graduate from college. While in college in Billings prior to WWII he took basic flight training as a member of the Air Cadets.

On Dec. 8, 1941, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and entered fighter pilot training in Southern California. While mending a broken wrist he suffered during a rough training landing he was able to spend many treasured days (and nights) in Hollywood where he became good friends with band leader Harry James and stayed at the homes of George Raft, Angela Landsbury, Betty Grable and others.

Upon graduation from advanced fighter pilot school in Georgia he was assigned to the 1st Air Commando Group in India (CBI Theater), flying 76 combat dive bombing, strafing and escort missions in P-47s and P-51s over “The Hump” in Burma, China and French Indochina. He was shot down twice over enemy territory. To the end of his life he continued to praise the bravery of the British officer and Ghurka soldier teams who parachuted in to find him and other Allied flyers and bring them out to safety.

After the war he returned to Billings and put his business degree to work in the credit field, first at a petroleum company, then as credit manager of the Billings division of the Marshall Wells Co., a national hardware wholesale firm. Joe married Blanche Brock in Billings in 1947 and the family grew, adding their three children: Joe, Linda and Mark. Joe and Blanche built the first home on a vacant section of Yellowstone Avenue, followed shortly by his brothers, Vlado and Mili, also returning vets, who soon built their homes there.

In 1956 he was transferred to Spokane. In the late 1950s when Marshall Wells was sold he was hired by the Jensen-Byrd Co. of Spokane where he spent more than 25 years as credit manager and another five years as the firm’s first non-family general manager. His strong leadership, along with his unparalleled wit and sense of humor, won the employees’ hearts before retiring in 1985.     

Joe and Blanche divorced in 1972. In 1981 Joe married Janet Nirk and added her sons, Jeff and Dwayne to the family. As the years progressed the family accumulated numerous grandchildren who, along with his pets, became the light of Joe’s life. He lived for and adored kids, his own and every child he met. His amazing, sweet smile and lovely eyes instantly melted the fears and tears of every child (and adult) who met him.

After retiring, Joe and Janet moved to a home on Avondale Golf Course near Hayden Lake. When he no longer could get around the links they moved to a home in Hayden. No one who ever met him will forget that smile, his intelligence, his grasp of facts and figures, his ability to move mountains at work, building homes and his lake place or as a leader in the regional and national business credit industry. Even into the waning days with his battle with Alzheimer’s he continued to amaze us with his memories of people, events and history. His biting wit and humor never faltered. The determination he showed in his final days as he fought to regain the strength to be able to leave the hospital and assisted care to return to Janet, his beloved home and pets will inspire us forever. A truly remarkable life.

Joe was preceded in death by brothers Vlado, Mili, Eli, Mike, Pete and Paul; sisters Nega and Mary; sisters-in-law Louise, Bernadine and Leona; and brother-in-law Wilbur.

Joe is survived by sisters Milka Clark and Olga/Ron May, brother George, brother-in-law Jim Swain, all of Billings; sisters-in-law Jill of Anaconda and Thelma of Red Lodge, Mont., and countless loving nieces and nephews throughout the western U.S.

Besides Janet at the home in Hayden, Joe leaves his Jovanovich kids Joe/Terese Palaia, Spangle, Wash.; Linda, Palouse; Mark/Paul Groomer, Bainbridge Island, Wash.; and granddaughter Jaime Jovanovich-Walker/Ed Walker of Moscow.

He is survived by his Nirk sons, Jeff/Sharon, Augusta, Ga., (Shelby, Kelsy, Haily, Boone and Layton) and Dwayne/Sue (Robbie) of Post Falls. Also at the home are his adored and adoring other kids: Pepper, Goldie, Bridger and Delilah (“the best puppies and kitty in the whole world”).

Special thanks to Marina and Tony, dear friends who helped him and us so much during his battle with Alzheimer’s.

Viewing will be from 9-9:45 a.m. Thursday, May 27, 2010, followed by funeral service at 10 a.m., all at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel. Graveside service will follow at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Hospice of North Idaho, to whom the family extends their deepest appreciation and respect.

Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel, is entrusted with care of final arrangements.

Please visit Joe’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.