John Kenneth Bohenek

MISSOULA - On April 16, 2008, John K. Bohenek passed from his earthly home into the open arms of God and his beloved mother and father. His pain and suffering is no longer and we are thankful to God for letting him pass in peaceful slumber.



John, known to his family as Jack, was born in Queens, N.Y., on August. l6, 1941, the firstborn child to John and Mary Bohenek. Jack became the big brother to Kenny, Karen and Mary. They grew up on Long Island, in New Hyde Park and Floral Park.



Jack followed in our dad's footsteps and became a journeyman plumber and later a master plumber. Following in their footsteps, Kenny also became a journeyman plumber and later a master plumber. The three worked through Plumbers Local No. 2 in New York City. They were a trio and there are too many stories to be told in this tribute about their years together in plumbing and heating.



Jack moved to Missoula in June 1973 and purchased an almost-defunct plumbing and heating business, AAA Plumbing & Heating, and turned it into a very profitable business. Kenny followed with his family in 1976 and worked with Jack. In March 1979, Mom and Dad, Karen and her family and Mary and her daughter relocated to Missoula and once again bound our family close together.



Being quite an entrepreneur, he was a success in every venture he pursued. In July 1980, Kenny bought AAA Plumbing & Heating, and John set out to reach a dream that he long wanted - a restaurant and lounge. With only a handful of businesses on North Reserve Street, John built his "dream" and in July 1982, he opened the doors to The Stampede (known now as The Joker's Wild). After selling The Stampede, he moved to Arizona and later to Washington, where he worked once again as a plumbing and heating contractor. He returned to Missoula after Mom passed away and opened Bohenek Plumbing & Heating, later known as Bohenek & Son after his son, Matt, became a plumber. This business was very successful until Jack's health deteriorated and overwhelmed his body.



John lived life hard, fast and to the fullest. He leaves behind many, many friends. His occasional gruffness was his way of trying to hide the fact that he had the biggest, warmest heart in the world and would do anything for anyone.



Jack's dad passed away in 1987 and his Mom in 1992. He is survived by his siblings: His brother Kenny and his wife Cathy, nephew Ken and fiancee, Emily, niece Christine and Cal Robinson and their daughter, Grace; nephew Christopher and Lynne and their sons, Sam and Will. His sister, Karen Gitto, her son, John and Chia and their son, Aiden. His sister, Mary and husband Jim Burrows and their daughter Caryn, who always called him "The Godfather," which he was.



John leaves behind two children whom he loved with all his heart: Jeanne Marie and her brother, John "Matthew" and his daughter, Tori, John's granddaughter.



Sadly, he leaves a void in the heart of Karen Rausch, the love of his life, his companion and caregiver. Her family thought of John as a dad, a granddad, friend and a cherished loved one.



Our family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials in his name be made to St. Patrick Hospital's Dialysis Unit. We thank them for the compassion, care and humor the staff shared with John. It made his four- to five-hour, three-times-a-week dialysis treatments a lot easier for him.



Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home with a reception following at Curley's Broiler. Jack will be loved and missed and always, always in our hearts and prayers. Please take a moment to say a prayer for his soul. Rest now, Jack, you've made it home!