Thomas "Joe" Roberts

Thomas Joseph "Joe" Roberts passed away in his sleep early in the morning of June 8th, 2016 in Spokane, Washington. He was 86 years old.

Joe was born in Butte, Montana on St. Patrick's Day ,1930 to Joe and Ethel Roberts. He was their only child. Joe was raised in Butte and like his Father before him he loved sports. He attended Butte High School where he was a stand out athlete in football, basketball and track. More importantly while at Butte High he met Eileen Markovich, the love of his life.

Joe and Eileen married shortly after high school and Joe enrolled at the University of Montana where he obtained his degree and teaching certificate. While attending college, Joe played football for the Griz, first as an end, then center after a shoulder injury. Joe was a captain of the Griz in 1953. He loved the Griz, and followed the football and basketball teams his whole life.

After graduating from college, Joe served a two-year commitment in the US Air Force concluding his service as a flight controller at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

Joe returned to Butte where he taught business classes and coached football, wrestling and track at Butte High. In 1961 he moved his family to Helena, where he taught and coached at Helena High. In 1962 Joe became the head football coach for Missoula County High school. Along with leading the football team, he taught business classes and assisted his friend Jug, with the wrestling team, and Lou, with the track team. Joe loved coaching high school kids and enjoyed the camaraderie of teaching and coaching. His coaching career was highlighted by winning the State Football Championship in the fall of 1963, and he took great pride in the fact that the class of 1963 won the state championship in four sports. Joe was honored as an inductee into the Butte Sports Hall of Fame in the summer of 2003. Despite his outwardly calm demeanor, he was fiercely competitive and loved a challenge.

Joe spent 30 years (1962-1992) working for the Missoula County School District, first as a teacher and coach, then vice principal, and principal, and finally as an the assistant superintendent of the high schools. As with his passion for coaching, Joe was genuinely caring and committed to all of the students in the school community and took pride in their success and achievements in academics, and other school programs.

After retiring in 1992, Joe lived in Missoula, enjoying his family and friends, following the Griz. Playing golf at the Missoula Country Club (he was a member for 30 years) with life-long childhood friend, Gene Downey was one of his favorite past times. His wife, Eileen, passed in 1999.

Joe’s family was of the upmost importance to him; he was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his son Tom (Lori), and his boys Connor and Mike, by his daughter Karen (Van Troxel), and their sons Chad (Jodi), Matt (Katie), Ashley (Daniel Jones),and by his youngest son Joe (Susie), and their sons Joe (Lauren), Aaron (soon to be Tori!). Joe has three great grandchildren Maggie and Tucker Jones, and Emmy Troxel. Joe is also survived by his life-long friend and brother in- law Sam Jankovich of Hayden Lake, Idaho.

Thank you to all of our family and friends for your love and support and to the wonderful people at Fairview Assisted living in Spokane. The family would like donations to be made to Alzheimer's Association or
Missoula County High Schools Activity Funds.

A funeral service for Joe will take place at Garden City Funeral Home on Monday, June 13th at 1:00P.M. Joe’s burial will take place Tuesday, June 14th at 10:00A.M. at Mountain View Cemetery in Butte, MT.