George T. Nolan Jr. died Wednesday, April 8, 2015 in Helena, MT from myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). He was born in Englewood, N.J. on April 21, 1928, to George and Viola (Hattenbrun) Nolan. He spent his childhood in Demarest N.J. and graduated from Tenafly (N.J.) High School in 1946. Dad entered the U.S. Army in 1950 and served in Korea with the 45th Signal Co/45th Division as a cryptologist. He was honorably discharged in 1952. For the next few years he worked in and around New York City at a variety of jobs such as construction, tugboat crewman and volunteer fireman. It was in NYC in 1956 that he met his future wife Joanne. They were married in 1957 and left the big city for Bozeman, MT in 1959 so Dad could begin his studies at Montana State College (MSU). He graduated near the top of his class with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1962. Following graduation, Dad accepted a job at ESSO and moved the family back to Hackettstown, N.J. Over the next few years Mom and Dad decided that Montana was the place they most wanted to raise a family. In 1967 Dad moved the family back to Bozeman, Montana, where he entered graduate school at MSU. He received his Masters in 1969 and continued graduate studies at MSU until 1971, at which time he took a job with the State of Montana in Helena. He worked in the Architecture and Engineering Division until his retirement in 1989.
Dad’s interests included woodworking; he was an avid pro golf fan and followed ALL Olympic sports. He also enjoyed road trips to various points around the U.S., particularly to a number of Army Reunions held in Oklahoma, family trips to Seattle and frequently to Butte for pork chop sandwiches.
Dad is survived by his sons Mark (Seattle), Ken (Helena), daughters Patricia (Missoula) and Catherine (Helena), and three grandsons Peter (Watertown N.Y.), Hugh (Helena) and Michael (Missoula).
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Joanne (Mack).
Special thanks to Dr. Weiner and Staff at St Peter’s Cancer Care Center as well as St Peter’s Oncology Ward in Helena MT for the exceptional care that they provided throughout Dad’s illness. Thanks also to St Peters Hospice and to Aspen Gardens Assisted Living for the excellent assistance they provided Dad during his final days.
Sincere appreciation to are close family friends Roger Rawls and Jim Kembel.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, April 13th at Retz Funeral Home, 315 E. 6th Avenue. The Burial with military honors will follow the gathering at 3:00 p.m. at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Fort Harrison. Please visit www.retzfuneralhome.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of George.
Ellen Mack says
Our deepest regrets at the loss of your father. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help. Lorraine, Ellie, James and Becka
Mary Jane Pflug says
Sorry to hear about the loss of your father. Please let us know if there is anything that we can do for you. Mary Jane, Bill
Pete & Jann Peterson says
Our deepest sympathies for the loss of your father. Your mother and father lived across the street from us in Bozeman, and we were very good friends with the whole family. Mark is still in touch with our son Toby in Seattle. They will both be missed by us and many others.
Patricia Nolan says
Thank you all for your kind words. They mean a lot to our whole family. Thank you!