JACOB VAVRUSKA obituary

Jacob Alban Vavruska, 93, was born Feb. 26, 1917, on a farm north of Rudyard, to William and Agnes (Spinler) Vavruska. He received his education in Hingham and graduated from Hingham High School in 1936. Jacob worked for the CCC at various times between 1934 and 1940. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1940 and served during World War II. He attained the rank of tech sergeant and received his honorable discharge in 1945. He began farming with his father east of Hingham. Jacob met and married Marieann C. Wendland on Oct. 4, 1949. The Vavruskas lived, farmed and raised their family on Marieann's place, seven miles southeast of Hingham. In 1956 Jacob built a second home in Hingham. He retired from farming in 1980. After the Vavruskas divorced in 1983, Jacob moved to Havre. In 2008 his health began to fail, so he moved to Northern Montana Care Center in Havre. He died there on Thursday, April 29. Jacob was baptized and confirmed at Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Church in Hingham. He remained active in the church and the Knights of Columbus for many years. In 1990 he transferred his membership to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel in Great Falls. During his retirement years, Jacob enjoyed traveling to Arizona, California and Minnesota. He was a patriotic man who flew the American flag with pride. He was also very health conscious and ate a lot of fruits and vegetables. Jacob loved gardening, picking berries and working in his shelterbelts. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting and reading, especially religious and health books. Jacob was a serious man with a subtle sense of humor. He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father, Vincent Feider; brother, Charles; and five children, Agnes, Bernard, Clarence, Doris and Edith. Survivors include three daughters, Fern (Bert) Ergenbright of Hingham, Gail Sharp of Belgrade and Hazel May of Hingham; one son, Irvin (Nicky) Vavruska of East Helena; seven grandchildren, Andrew, Nathan, Dallas, Aubri, Tarryn, Jorin and Kinsey; and three great-grandchildren, Brendan, Jessica and Adrianna. Jacob was cremated. Private family services with disposition of his ashes were held Saturday, May 1. Undesignated memorials will be given to the Chapel Fund at the Northern Montana Care Center in Havre. Cremation and arrangements were by Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester.