Jack Thomas "JT" Liesz

RINCON, Ga. – Jack Thomas "JT" Liesz, 30, died unexpectedly on Sunday, March 24, 2013 in Bluffton, S.C.

JT was born April 23, 1982 in Pullman, Wash. to Jan Hook Julin and Tom Liesz. Jan and Tom welcomed JT's little sister Nissa into their family on April 25, 1986. The family lived in Moscow, Idaho until JT was 8 years old before moving to Missoula.

JT attended Prescott Elementary School, Rattlesnake Middle School and Hellgate High School. He graduated from Hellgate in 2000.

Right after high school, JT enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps with some of his closest friends, who he always considered as family. He trained as an avionics technician. He was in the Marine Corps for five years, during which time he married Melissa Roberts Liesz on Dec. 30, 2004. JT became a father to Parker Thomas on Jan. 28, 2006.

JT served one tour while a Marine in Iraq and one in Afghanistan under the Air National Guard. During his service, he spent time in Camp Pendleton; Pensacola, Fla.; Norfolk, Va.; Iwakuni, Japan; Beufort, S.C.; and served in the Army National Guard in Missoula before switching to the Air National Guard in Savannah. Making friends in every place he was. He was always proud to be a Marine. At the time of his death, he was serving in the Air National Guard as a Staff Sergeant in Georgia.

JT loved his son Parker more than anything. He loved being a daddy and would take any opportunity he could to spend time with him. The two shared the love of baseball, playing tee-ball in the backyard. JT coached Parker's soccer team. Singing and dancing in the car was one of their favorite activities. "Let's rock out," JT would tell Parker before singing along to Little Big Town's "Pontoon" and rock music. And JT would make sure to read Parker stories before bed each night, even if they weren't together.

On Valentine's Day when JT was deployed, Parker picked out a little red sock monkey with a pink heart on his chest to send to his daddy. They continued to send the monkey back and forth to one another.

"I remember that he always loved me and he always took care of me," Parker said, "and him throwing me really high in the air!"

He was an incredibly remarkable son and brother who filled his family daily with love and laughter. Every moment with JT will be cherished forever. His smile lit the room and brought joy to the hearts of many.

While living in Georgia, JT met his current love, Yanina Garrastegui. He was really looking forward to bringing her and Parker up to Montana this summer to do some fishing, camping and introduce her to his home and looked forward to many years with her.
JT had an amazing sense of humor and would go out of his way to make other people smile and laugh along with him. He was a loving, compassionate and fiercely loyal father, son, brother and friend. During his short life, JT made friends across the globe.

He was preceded in death by grandparents Jack and Gertrude Liesz, and Walter and Margaret Hook and sister Deanna Kay Liesz.

He is survived by his son Parker; father Tom Liesz (Amy James); mother Jan Hook Julin (Jim); sister Nissa and Orlando Piva and their son Enzo; Richard and Tanya Liesz; James Liesz; Colleen and Tom Lowry and kids Lisa, Peter and Dan; Melissa Liesz and her family; his love Yanina Garrastegui; numerous cousins and other family; and countless friends.

A funeral service for JT will be on Saturday, March 30, 2013 at 2 p.m. at Garden City Funeral Home, located at 1705 W. Broadway in Missoula followed by burial with military honors at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery. A reception at the Hilton Garden Inn will follow the services.

The family will also being holding a celebration of JT's life in Savannah later this spring.
JT was a bright light in this world and his contagious smile will be greatly missed.


Read Jack Liesz's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.