Janice M Lopach

Janice Marie Wagner Lopach
Janice Marie Wagner Lopach died peacefully on June 14, 2017 at St. Patrick Hospital after a brief illness. She was born July 12, 1944, in Helena, Montana, to Bill and Peg Wagner. Janice was the third of Bill and Peg’s six children. The Wagner family moved to Livingston for a short time and then to Missoula in 1953, where Bill entered the home furniture business.
In Missoula, Janice and her siblings grew up on Plymouth Street in a beautiful home that she admired fondly until her death. She attended St. Anthony’s Grade School and graduated high school from Sacred Heart Academy in 1962. With a scholarship in speech and drama, she enrolled at Carroll College where she met her husband, Jim Lopach. Janice and Jim were married in Missoula in 1965 and moved to South Bend, Indiana, where Jim attended graduate school at the University of Notre Dame.
At Notre Dame Janice worked for the University Library in the Circulation Department and the Rare Book Room. After the family returned to Montana in 1973, Janice worked for several years at Mountain Bell as a telephone operator before joining the staff of her family’s furniture store, Wagner’s Home Furnishings. She retired in 2009 after a long and successful sales career at Wagner’s. Janice took great pride in working with many members of the Missoula community and continuing the legacy of her father and mother in the family business. Janice also taught aerobic dance classes in Missoula during the 1980s. Janice and Jim divorced in 1991.
Janice and Jim had two children, Christine who was born in Missoula, and Paul who was born in South Bend, Indiana. Janice played an active and formative role in Christine and Paul’s lives during their childhood and school years, especially their academic, athletic, and service activities. She was proud that both of her children graduated from Sentinel High School and the University of Notre Dame.
Besides her children, Janice took great pleasure in spending time with her extended family at Seeley Lake, Flathead Lake, and Swan Lake. She enjoyed golf, walking, country music, and dancing. She was a loyal fan of the Fighting Irish and the Grizzlies. Remarkable to all who knew her was the deep feeling and commitment she brought to her work at Wagner’s and to her relationships with family and friends. No one experienced this passion and loyalty more than her five granddaughters, whom she loved dearly.
Janice is survived by her daughter Christine Caldwell of Missoula, Christine’s husband Dr. J Michael Caldwell, and their three daughters Jocelyn, Emma, and Meghan; son Paul Lopach of Denver, Colorado, Paul’s wife Dr. Victoria Catenacci, and their two daughters Chiara and Chelsea; her brother John Wagner of Missoula and his wife Joan; her sister Toni Kolendich of Billings, and her husband Frank; her brother Bill Wagner of Coeur d’Alene and his wife Sherri; and her brother Mike of Missoula, and his wife Margaret. Also surviving Janice are her former husband Jim Lopach and his partner Jeanne Luckowski, as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Janice’s sister Betty Wagner Jasperson preceded her in death. Janice took great pride and pleasure in all the members of this large family and her deep roots in the Missoula community.

Janice’s family fondly remembers her as a true child of God, so full of love, dedication, and sacrifice. We will always be thankful for the influential role she played in our lives and the laughter and joy she brought to her family and friends.
Janice's family is particularly grateful for the doctors, nurses, and staff at St. Patrick Hospital who cared for Janice during her recent hospitalization. Their professionalism and compassion are truly remarkable.
A memorial mass will be held on Friday, June 23 at 10am at Saint Francis Xavier Church at 420 West Pine Street. Following interment at the Saint Mary’s Cemetery a reception will follow at the University of Montana Stadium Club. Memorials may be made to either Saint Patrick Hospital Foundation (P.O. Box 4587, Missoula 59806) or Camp Mak-A-Dream (P.O. Box 1450, Missoula 59806).