CYRIL F. HONZEL obituary

MISSOULA - Cyril F. "Cy" Honzel, 83, of Missoula died Sunday, April 27, 2003, at St. Patrick Hospital of natural causes.

Visitation will be held on today from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Garden City Funeral Home with Vigil services following at 7:30 p.m. Mass will be celebrated Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony's Parish with a reception following at the Elks Club. Private interment will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery.

Cy was born Jan. 22, 1920, in Prairie du Chien, Wis., the only child of Frank R. and Gabrielle (Merrell) Honzel.

As a young lad, he lived with his parents in Prairie du Chien. In later life, he enjoyed talking about his life on the banks of the Mississippi River, including riding horseback with Gene Autry when Autry was performing in Prairie.

When Cy was 14, he and his mother moved to Havre, and he graduated from Havre High School two years later. While attending Northern Montana College, he worked for the F.A. Buttrey Co., and continued to work there until he entered into the U.S. Army in 1942.

After Officer Candidate School, Cy was stationed in Spokane, Wash., and he and Marise Bailey were married in Our Lady of Lourde's Cathedral on Jan. 22, 1944.

In September of that year, Cy was sent to the India Burma Theater, with headquarters in Calcutta. When the war ended, Cy, an Army major, returned to Spokane for a few short weeks before he and Marise and their baby son, Tom, moved to Missoula, where they lived for 58 years.

Cy was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion and the Elks Club, and was a member of the Reserve Officers Association from 1946 to 1960. He was a life member of the Downtown Lions Club and held all offices during his 57 years as a member.

He served as a city commissioner in 1954-56 and was honored by the Jaycees as the Young Man of the Year.

Cy wore many hats in St. Anthony's Parish, including singing in the choir, calling bingo games, helping with breakfasts and carnivals and being lector and Eucharistic minister.

Cy was involved in many businesses in Missoula and Bigfork and was an insurance agent for more than 30 years. He loved to golf and was a member of the Geritol League at the University Course and, loved "those Grizzlies."

Last December Cy administered the oath of office to his grandson, Burke Honzel, at Burke's commissioning as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant grandson, Gregory Honzel.

Besides his wife of 59 years, Marise, Cy is survived by: a daughter, Gretchen (Marty) Heller of Helena; sons, Judge Thomas (Mary) Honzel of Helena, Bill (Elaine) Honzel of Helena, Chris (Vickie) Honzel of Missoula and Doug (Debbie) Honzel of Missoula. Also surviving are seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Donation may be made to the Poverello Center, 535 Ryman, Missoula, MT 59802 or to the St. Anthony Building Fund, 217 Tremont, Missoula, MT 59801. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory.