Zachary Spannagel

Zachary Spannagel, founder of Montana's first snowboard shop, Board of Missoula, passed away Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, on his 47th birthday. Cause of death was pancreatitis.

Zack was born in Billings and raised in Portland, Oregon. He attended Portland public schools, including Harriet Tubman Middle School and Wilson High School, class of 1986. He began his college studies at The College of Idaho in Caldwell, and completed B.S. degrees in anthropology and small business administration at the University of Montana-Missoula.

Having begun a snowboard maintenance service as an undergraduate, Zack and various partners expanded into renting and retailing dealing in snowboards, skateboards, rollerblades, kayaks, sportswear and accessories. From its location on Missoula's Higgins Avenue "Hip Strip," the shop sponsored snowboard competitors, some of which became nationally ranked; built half-pipes at ski areas; established competitions such as banked slalom and boarder cross events; and brought a number of emerging alternative rock bands and snowboard films to the Missoula market.

Most recently, Zack operated his own painting company, Missoula Finishing Inc.

A fourth-generation Montanan, Zack was descended from a "box car family" that homesteaded what became a successful dryland Hereford ranch on Reservation Creek, near Forsyth in Rosebud and Treasure counties. Although growing up in Portland, Zack became an annual summer resident of the ranch, learning to muck out animal pens, pluck chickens, shoot ground squirrels, ride ATVs and motorcycles, and to close any gates that were opened or else.

Zack is survived by his father, Robert Noah Spannagel of Billings; his mother, Judith Franklin Spannagel of Missoula; uncle and aunt, Eli and Jeanne Spannagel of Forsyth; cousin, Celeste Spannagel (Richard) Rohrich, of Forsyth; cousin, Sabrina Spannagel (Tony) Bradley of Seattle; uncle and aunt, Griffith and Lucy Franklin of Sherwood, Oregon; and cousins, Casey Franklin (Damon Petracci) and Muriel Petracci of Portland.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Eli and Virginia Spannagel of Forsyth and Lloyd and Helen Franklin of Portland; aunt, Fernetta Spannagel Pinkston of Roseville, California; and uncle, Richard Freeman Duncan of Newport, Michigan.

As an only child, Zack grew up fascinated by "The Waltons" and "The Brady Bunch" on television. He built and installed a quarter-pipe skateboard ramp in his mother's driveway, which surprised his mother and drew his own "family" of young boarders to their home along with less than complimentary attention from their neighbors and insurance agent.

Zack also enjoyed fishing, crabbing, hunting, rock climbing, crystal hunting and boating Montana rivers. On Sept. 11, 2001, he happened to be helping guide a three-day Missouri River float for a group headed by historian Stephen Ambrose, when they learned of the terrorist attacks on New York City and the Pentagon. Zack said they observed a moment of silence, and then went on their way. Retracing the route of explorers Lewis and Clark, they were struck by the authenticity afforded by the complete absence of air traffic for the remainder of that trip.

Zack came to this world equipped with a graceful combination of talents both mechanical (Wilson High School "Craftsman of the Year 1986") and artistic. He was in equal parts history buff and visionary. With a very soft heart and dry sense of humor, he wore very well and is already greatly missed.

A celebration of Zack's life is set for Saturday, Dec. 5, at Missoula's Wilma Theater. A memorial is set for 3-4 p.m. to be followed by a reception 4-5:30 p.m. in the lobby. An informal gathering of friends, also at the Wilma, is set for 8:30 p.m.

Interment is planned at the pioneer Howard Community Cemetery, undergoing preservation and renovation west of Forsyth and near the ranch.

The family suggests any memorial donations be made to the Montana Skatepark Association, 618 Higgins Ave., Missoula, MT 59801; or to a favorite charity.


Read Zachary Spannagel's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.