Joseph Charles Jankovsky III, 40, died peacefully in his sleep on Aug. 12, 2009, in Columbia Falls, after battling a long-term illness. Joe was born May 5, 1969, in Colorado to Joe and Jeanne Jankovsky. His younger years were spent in the Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, with his family.

Later the cattle industry moved them to Montana. They settled in Eureka in 1980, where Joe attended school. He graduated from Lincoln County High in 1988. Then Joe attended Northern Montana College in Havre and Northern Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, before moving to Federal Way, Wash., where he met his wife, Kristi.

Joe and Kristi were married in 1994 in Snohomish, Wash., and moved to Columbia Falls in 1996. Their son, Joseph IV, was born in 2000. Joe was very proactive in his son's treatment for autism and his greatest accomplishment was teaching Joey how to swim.

Joe was an avid outdoorsman with a deep love for bow hunting the elusive Rocky Mountain elk. Joe made friends throughout two counties delivering for Frito Lay and Meadowgold Dairy. He brought joy and laughter to everyone around him. Although his body failed him, he will live on in our memories and best of all in his son Joey.

Joe is survived by his wife, Kristi, and son, Joey, of Columbia Falls; his parents, Joe and Jeanne Jankovsky; his brother, Josh, and family, Nina, Blade and Cole, all of Eureka; his sister, Jaime, and family, Jess, Avery and Chloe, of Portland; and Kristi's family, Janet Mead, Ken and Linda Weitz, Craig, Lydia and Sara Weitz, all of Washington.

Special thanks to Angela St. John and the staff at Hosanna Health Care, Pastor Nelson of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, and Three Rivers Emergency Care.