JOHN M. LADANYE obituary

KALISPELL John Michael Ladanye, 51, of Kalispell, died Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006, at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colo., after a brave struggle against brain cancer.

Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Garden City Funeral Home in Missoula. His funeral service will be held at 11 a. m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. Glen Burfeind of Kalispell First Presbyter-ian Church officiating. Internment will follow at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Missoula. A memorial service for John will be held in Havre at a later date to be announced. He was born Jan. 15, 1955, in Albuquerque, N.M. He lived in New Mexico until he was 13, when he moved with his family to the Missoula area. He graduated from Sentinel High School and went on to receive a bachelor's degree in zoology and a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Montana. In 2003, he earned a master's degree in science education from Montana State University- Northern. On July 3, 1999, he married Karen (nee Seibel) in Havre. The first marriage for both, they enjoyed more than seven loving and wonderful years together. The couple lived in Havre until October 2005, when they moved to Kalispell. John worked many years as a high school science teacher, including six years with the Turner Public School System. While there, he supervised many student science projects which advanced all the way to the international level of Science Fair competition. From 2002 to 2005 he was the natural resources instructor at Fort Belknap College. In the summer of 2005, while attending the Revere Academy of Jewelry Design in San Francisco, he was diagnosed with brain cancer, which ended his dream of becoming a goldsmith and jewelry maker. He loved to learn and was knowledgeable in many areas. He took great pleasure in nature and the outdoors, including all types of plants and animals, and he had great respect and concern for the natural environment. He liked camping, fishing, hiking, sailing, and many other outdoor activities. He enjoyed traveling and had the opportunity to go to many places, including the Hawaiian islands and Alaska. In 2004, he and his wife took a cruise to the Caribbean. He was also very artistic and creative and enjoyed working with his hands. His pet dogs brought him a great amount of happiness. John was both a strong and gentle man. He was thoughtful and kind and had a great sense of humor. He remembered his childhood fondly, and at times he joyfully displayed the sense of wonder and innocence of the little boy he was so long ago. John was preceded in death by his grandparents, Charles and Mary (nee Serson) Ladanye, and Ray and Edith (nee Clark) Vandevoort. Survivors include his wife, Karen, of Kalispell; parents, Mary and George Ladanye of Arlee; brothers, George of Arlee and Ray of Ketchikan, Alaska; his beloved dogs, Elsie and Sparky; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. The family suggests memorials to the National Brain Tumor Foundation, the American Cancer Society or the donor's local ASPCA.