Jackey “Jack” Ray Fasig was born to Claude Ennis and Freda Eileen (Maring) Fasig, July 15, 1937 in Martinsville, Illinois. Jack was the oldest of five children. Following him was Clayton (Clay), Sheila, and twins, William (Bill) and Robert (Bob).
Jack graduated from Martinsville High School in 1955, and married his high school sweetheart, Marolyn Deniece Kannmacher. Directly following the wedding, Jack enlisted with the United States Navy, and worked as a machinist mate on the U.S.S Guadalupe until his honorable discharge in 1958. While Jack was serving his country, his wife, Marolyn was in nursing school at Union Hospital School of Nursing in Terra Haute, Indiana, where she became an R.N., graduating in 1958.
Jack carried many jobs throughout his life, including raising hogs, farmhand, railroad security, Arizona prison guard, ordained Nazarene pastor, Sidney Hospital Credits & Collections, Montana Probation & Parole Officer and Montana Firearms Instructor. Jack retired from his probation job in Sidney in 2000 after health complications, and received one of the best presents in 2001 when Marolyn retired from nursing so they could grow old together.
Jack and Marolyn's lives took them across the map from Illinois, Arizona, Kansas, and Colorado and to his favorite landing spot, Sidney Montana, where he knew he would spend the rest of his life.
Jack and Marolyn brought four children into this world, Kevin Jay, Deniece Rae, Ruston Todd and Timothy Paul. He was strict to the core, but all of his family knew they were loved.
Jack's favorite hobby was in firearms. He taught his children and grandchildren gun safety, how to shoot and how to break down and clean each firearm. If it didn't pass his inspection - it was to be cleaned again. This was a serious sport for Jack, and he won many awards in competitions around the area. He also taught his family to hunt and to clean the prize after its demise.
Jack had special friends, but probably none more special than Tim “Bawana” and Dee Dietrich. Tim and Jack were the "prairie-doggers" of northeast Montana-northwest North Dakota. Dee always had a bowl of ice cream and other goodies at the table when the guys came in after the prairie dog-hunt. John Mercer was another friend Jack enjoyed competition and target shooting with, and Jacks family spent many, many hours at John’s exercising the sport.
Jack will be remembered by his family for his big heart, his love for God, his undying love for his sweet little "wench" Marolyn, his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and the love of his country and those that served and continue to serve in the Armed Forces.
Jack died on Wednesday morning, March 7, 2018, at the Eastern Montana Veterans Home, Glendive, MT.
Jack is survived by his wife, Marolyn; his children, Jay (Marcia), Haysville, KS, Deniece (Dan) Schwab, Sidney, MT, Russ (Judy), Derby, KS, and Tim (Kim), West Haven, UT; his grandchildren and great grandchildren, Cody (Ryan and Jackson), Kalee (Martin with Memphis and Georgia), Dustin, Shelley (Bella, and Josh with Rylan), Justine (Josh with Luke, Levi and Liam), Mallory (Joey with Adelyn), Garrett (Karina), and Sam and Katelyn; his sister, Sheila (Joe) Dill, Spokane, WA; his brothers, Clay (Val) Ft. Meyers, FL and Bill of Michigan.
Jack is preceded in death by his parents and his little brother, Bob.