Michael W. Grachek Sr., 71, of Kalispell, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Mike was born June 5, 1939, in Peoria, Ill., to Joe and Mary Grachek. He was the third of five children and spent his childhood in Illinois. Just before his freshman year of high school, Mike's family moved to North Platte, Neb.

He met his beloved wife, Connie Tatman, his sophomore year of high school. Mike graduated from high school in 1957 and then attended the University of Nebraska, graduating with a degree in sociology in 1962.

Mike was a huge Cornhusker fan and rarely missed a Nebraska football game. “Go Big Red.”

On June 11, 1961, Mike married Connie in North Platte. They lived in North Platte until 1962 when he enlisted in the Marine Corps. After serving a tour in Vietnam, Mike left the Marine Corps at the rank of captain and returned to North Platte to pursue a career in real estate with Connie’s parents. 

In January 1971 he got his insurance license and went to work as a field agent for Federated Insurance in North Platte. In 1976, he moved his family to Missoula where he went to work at Larry Larson Insurance, and in 1977 they moved to Kalispell where Mike opened a new branch. Mike and Connie started Mike Grachek Insurance in 1986, and he worked in the agency until his open heart surgery in January 2011.     

Mike was a Shriner, a member of the Elks, and a member of Buffalo Hill Golf Course. He loved to golf with his son, his brother-in-law and his many golfing buddies. He had a “putting green” in his office where he practiced his putting skills and challenged his customers to putting contests. He was an avid outdoorsman and addition to golf loved to bike ride, boat, fish and hunt.

 He was happiest when he got to spend time playing with his grandchildren.  “Papa” was the biggest kid of them all and shared many summer days at the river and evenings taking bike rides with them. He was a huge part of their lives and spent as much time as he could with them. 

Mike is survived by his wife, of 49 1/2 years, Connie; his daughter, Cindy Ames, and Don, of Spokane; his son, Mike Grachek Jr., and Darlene, of Kalispell; and daughter, Mary Hartsoch, and Jeff, of Kalispell; his brother, Joe Grachek, and Dottie, of North Platte; his brother, Wayne Grachek, and Carolyn, of Grand Island, Neb,; his sister, Phyllis Strosahl, and Jim, of Polson; sister, Dorothy Yelton, and Jodie, of Idaho Falls, Idaho; his father-in-law, Vic Tatman, of Auburn, Wash.; his sister-in-law, Mary Ann Hopkins, and Phil, of Auburn, Wash.; his stepsister-in-law, Pam Chandler, and Doug, of Albuquerque, N.M.; and stepbrother-in-law, Jack Nelson, of Denver.     Mike's pride and joy were his grandchildren, Rebecca and Katie Ames of Spokane, Emily, Laura and Jonathan Grachek of Kalispell, and Kyler, Cody and Cassidy Hartsoch of Kalispell. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles and cousins. 

Mike was preceded in death by his parents; his mother-in-law, Lorine Tatman; his stepmother-in-law, Marj Tatman; and his great-nieces, Christy Cassidy and Danielle Sale.

A funeral service for Mike will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 18, at Epworth United Methodist Church in Kalispell, with the Pastor Steve Hermes officiating. Interment will follow at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell.  Visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. today, Feb. 17, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. 

The family suggests donations to Epworth United Methodist Church in Kalispell, the Special Olympics or the Shriners.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Mike's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Mike's tribute wall.