John F. Hossack, 87

John F. Hossack was born June 11, 1927, to William and Clarice Coulton Hossack in Sandpoint, Idaho, and passed away Dec. 19, 2014, at the Good Samaritan Mountain View Manor in Eureka, Mont.

John grew up in the Belton (West Glacier) and Kalispell, Mont. area, graduating from Kalispell High School in 1945. While still in school, John spent one summer playing semi-pro baseball for the Portland Beavers. He said he enjoyed the experience, but discovered he really didn't belong there. John entered the Navy immediately after graduating and served during World War II. He then attended school at Montana State for two years before transferring to Montana University in Missoula. He graduated from there with a degree in forestry.

John married Tana Marie Jones in Kalispell, Mont. in 1958. During their marriage they adopted four children: sons William Floyd (Bill) and Robert Joseph Patrick (Tucker), and twin daughters Joni Marie and Marla Elizabeth. The children were the pride and joy of his life. Tana passed away in 2004 in Whitefish, Mont. In 2006, John married Cheryl White in Coeur d'Alene, and they enjoyed eight wonderful years together.

John started working for the Forest Service at the young age of 15 as a lookout/smoke chaser. He continued his career in the Forest Service working in numerous ranger districts and forests in northwest Montana and Idaho. John started in the Lolo National Forest at the Remount Station (Nine Mile) and moved on to the Nez Perce Forest in Idaho where he served as District Ranger at the Moose Creek Ranger District when it first became a wilderness area, the Clearwater and Coeur d'Alene National Forest in Idaho, and the Kootenai and Bitterroot National Forest in Montana. He was fond of saying they moved every time the rent came due. He also served as an Incident Command Officer on wildfires, and taught firefighting skills in Marana, Ariz., during the winter for 15 years. He retired as Forest Supervisor in 1982 from the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho.

After his retirement from the Forest Service, John worked as a consultant/lobbyist for members of the logging industry and joined the Board of Directors for Lincoln Electric Cooperative in Eureka, Mont. He served at Practicums for the Native American Tribes in Montana, which he enjoyed very much. He had very fond memories of the young people from these camps, especially the time his teepee fell down.

John was preceded in death by his grandparents, George and Maggie Hossack; parents William and Clarice Hossack; wife Tana Marie Hossack; daughters Sharon Lee and Marla Elizabeth Hossack; brothers George "Gus" Hossack and Charles "Charlie" Hossack. He is survived by his wife Cheryl; sons William Floyd "Bill" (Cathy) Hossack of Casper, Wyo. and Robert Joseph Patrick "Tucker" Hossack of Port Townsend, Wash.; daughter Joni Marie (Todd) Hudson of Hayden, Idaho; brother Donald Hossack of Kalispell, Mont.; eight grandchildren: Tana, Zackary, Andrew, Gabbie, Mia, Rashae, Dawson and Cassie; and four great-grandchildren.

This is just a brief summary of his life. John will be remembered by many with respect and love. John always said he lived the best life anyone could have, and at his request no services will be held.