Robert Foster (“Bob”) Mitschke of Helena, age 59, died unexpectedly on July 24, 2015, as a result of injuries received in a work-related accident, while attempting to repair a damaged power pole.
Bob and his twin sister Beth were born in Helena on August 15, 1955, to Dr. John and Charlotte (“Lottie”) Mitschke. Bob spent most of his childhood in Helena and Miles City. He graduated from Helena High School in 1974 and briefly worked for Asarco until he enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1975. In 1977 Bob was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps and enrolled in Building Trade Studies at Helena Vo-Tech, graduating in 1979. Bob followed his proud service as a Marine volunteering several years of service in the Army National Guard.
On May 2, 1979, Bob was hired as a meter reader by the Montana Power Company. Bob dedicated his work-life to the power company and its customers. He was serving as a lineman and in the meter department of NorthWestern Energy at the time of his death. During his 36-year career with Montana Power and NorthWestern Energy he earned journeyman status as a lineman and meter reader. He was one of very few individuals in the Helena Division to hold two journeyman cards. Bob’s love of his work and the pride he took in providing exceptional service to his customers were known to and respected by his co-workers and all those he served.
While on leave from the Marines in December 1975, Bob had his first date with Jacquie Lynn Polich, the daughter of Lorraine and Frank Polich of Helena. In the following months, courtesy of the U. S. Postal Service, the two fell in love through letters that fill a box 12 inches wide and 12 inches deep. Bob finally worked up the courage to tell Jacquie he loved her on June 5, 1977. She still has the shirt he wore that night. Bob proposed on Christmas Eve in 1977, and the two were married in Helena on August 12, 1978. Together they shared a wonderful life and raised their three daughters in a home filled with joy and laughter. Their home is also filled with the results of Bob’s meticulous remodeling skills, which were considerable.
Bob and Jacquie have a cherished network of life-long friends with whom they shared their contagious happiness, kindness and caring for others. After growing up in a family outnumbered by sisters, and having raised three daughters, Bob was looking forward to the birth of their first grandchild, a grandson, in October. The name chosen by his daughter Laura and her husband is Noah Robert.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents Nell and John Mitchke and Josephine and Ray McGowan; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He is survived by his wife Jacquie and daughters, Laura (Chuck) Nemfakos of Helena, Michelle (Jason Apatoff) Mitschke of Bozeman, and Kimberly Mitschke (boyfriend Jake Ziska) of Helena. Bob is also survived by his brother Jack of Helena and sisters Mary (Larry) Zimmerman of Spokane, Ellie (John) Sullivan of Helena, Carlie (Doug) Stewart of Spokane, Jennie Mitschke of Missoula, Beth (Steve) Rosh of Custer, Marta (Jeff) McAllister of Billings, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Bob’s many nieces and nephews were honored to call him “Uncle Bob.” It is no accident that several of his nephews bear the name Robert. Bob is also survived by his dear and loyal life-long friend, Pat Glueckert, with whom Bob shared his power company career.
Bob’s kindness, generosity, gentle spirit, and mischievous wit are legendary. He will remain an inspiration for all those who had the honor of knowing him. His family, friends, and co-workers will treasure memories of him forever.
Bob was honored to share his Catholic heritage with his wife and daughters, who are long-time members of the Cathedral of St. Helena parish. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. with the family receiving friends beginning at 5:30 p.m. and a sharing of Bob’s life will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at noon on Thursday, July 30, at the Cathedral of St. Helena. A procession to Resurrection Cemetery will follow the Mass where a graveside service with military honors will take place. A reception will be held in the Brondel Center, located in the lower level of the Cathedral of St. Helena, immediately following the service at Resurrection Cemetery. Bob was very proud of his military service and his family has requested memorials in his name to the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots, P.O. Box 6896, Helena, MT 59604.
To offer condolences to the family or to share a memory of Bob please visit below.
Service Schedule
Visitation
9:00 am
Wednesday July 29, 2015
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Family Receiving Friends
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday July 29, 2015
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Celebration of His Life
7:00 p.m.
Wednesday July 29, 2015
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home Chapel
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59602
Military Honors
Immediately following the Mass
Thursday July 30, 2015
Resurrection Cemetery
3700 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Visitation
9:00 am
Wednesday July 29, 2015
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Family Receiving Friends
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday July 29, 2015
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Celebration of His Life
7:00 p.m.
Wednesday July 29, 2015
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home Chapel
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59602
Military Honors
Immediately following the Mass
Thursday July 30, 2015
Resurrection Cemetery
3700 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59602
Share
Colleen Moser Teberg says
Jacquie and Marta, I am so sorry to hear of Bob’s accident. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your families.
Colleen
Leroy Lamach says
Sorry to hear about the accident, we will all miss Bob very much. He was always one of the good guys. My prays are with you.
sharlene stav says
Dear Jackie and family, Keith and I were so sad to hear about Bob. We want you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. He was a wonderful person and will be greatly missed. We are here if you ever need anything. Please take care.
Theresa(Burgess) & Mike King says
Mitchke Family,
We are very saddened to hear About Bobs death. What a great man. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you all.
deb ekblom says
I am very sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. He was a client at our barbershop and I always enjoyed our visits. He gave us a photo of his grandfather’s barbershop in the Placer Hotel. Bob will be sorely missed. May God bless his family.
Esther Rohach says
Bob was a great co worker and always had a positive attitude, and he will be truly missed. My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to his family, co workers and friends. May God bless all of you during this time of sorrow.
Michael P. McVeigh says
Bob and I attended St. Helena’s/Bishop Gilmore Catholic elementary school together with his sister Beth starting in first grade. We then all graduated high school from Helena High in 1973/1974. I always enjoyed Bob’s enthusiastic spirit and story-telling nature. He always had a good joke to tell. To all the Mitschke family: Bob will always be in my thoughts and prayers. God bless all of you.
Shannon Holmen says
Bob used to walk me home from school in the 6 th grade in Miles City. We Sacred Heart friends always considered him a classmate although he never graduated with us. He was always very kind. I’m sorry for his family. My prayers, Shannon Halsey-Holmen
Ray Cordeiro family says
Our hearts are heavy…Bob always had a smile that melted your heart…He was the original company man, that went out any time he was needed. We will always remember him and smile when we think of him.
Lillian Tovey says
Jack and family my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Wayne Helmbrecht says
I’m not going to say Bob had, because I can still hear his wonderful laugh. Bob will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of working and meeting him. What a tragic loss, my heart goes out to all of the Mitschke family and friends.
Neil Horne says
What a great loss to Family, MPC/NWE employees, and the community. Bob was an extremely upbeat, hard working person with a great attitude all the time. After 10 days straight with 14 Montana Power Co. Employees working the Rainbow ‘B’ line from Helena to Cascade on storm trouble, Bob came up to me and said “I have never worked so hard, made so much money, and had so much fun in my life”. He nick named our group the ‘B Line Bums’.
Thanks Bob your smile always said it all.
Our Hearts go out to Jackie and the Girls
Neil and Darlene Horne
Renee Foundas Dent says
Bob was a classmate in Miles City and I was saddened when I heard of his passing. My sincere condolences to his family. May God embrace you in comfort during this difficult time.
John Sandford says
Dear Mitschke Family,
I’m so sorry for your loss. Bob, Scott Amundson and I took a vacation to Yellowstone Park the summer of 1975. I still remember Bob making us laugh, all the mosquito bites he got, us swimming in the Firehole River, etc. Bob wouldn’t smile for the camera, he always made a face for the photo and broke us up. We made a lot of memories on that trip. I’ll never forget Bob and that trip. Take care our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Mark Peterson says
Bob was also a classmate of mine in Miles City. My dad worked as a lineman for many years, so I know the worries associated with the occupation. My condolences to all of his family.
Tom and Patti Russ says
Jacquie and family
We were so saddened to hear about the accident and of Bob’s passing. We had gotten to know the NE Energy crew pretty well living where we do on McClellan Creek road in the Elkhorns. They are truly warriors who work hard to keep our lights on an furnaces running.
My last encounter with Bob occurred in our driveway. For the second time in less than two weeks the crew was repairing downed power lines due to beetle killed pine trees. This time the NW Energy old guard (Bob and Sam) were supervising. Not only was the line fixed, but the future hazzards were removed and new poles installed. We had a great visit too, reminiscing about HHS classmates from the class of 74.
We want you to know we are praying for you. Your faith shall bring you peace
Mary Carlson Rieley says
Mitschkes all,
You were wonderful neighbors in Miles City. I an stunned by Bobby’s death. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. I know how shattering the loss of a sibling is. I have watched his girls grow into wonderful reflections of the love they had for each other. I also cannot think of a more loving couple than the two of them. I always laughed that they were joined at the hip.
Whenever I would run into them they were together. What a team!!!
Janae Grotbo says
Kim and Family,
I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your Dad. He sounds like he was an amazing man and has touched the lives of many. It is evident the one picture of him in the paper, helping a little girl, sums up his amazing character. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. Please let us know if you need anything.
Don, Janae, Kenzie & Abi Grotbo
Bergetta and Lanny Hubbard says
Jackie: We have such fond memories of our girls at Hawthorne and the visits we had going to and from. Bob will always be remembered by us for his gentle nature and unhurried way, the kind of person who makes a good neighborhood a great neighborhood. Laura, Michele, and Kimberly: the Hubbards send their love
Marcella Barnhill says
I am heartbroken to hear about the tragedy that has befallen your family. Bob was such a wonderful guy. I honestly cannot remember a single time I saw him that he did not have a smile on his face. His presence will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you Jacquie, Laura, Michelle, and Kimberly during this time.
Dave and Marcella Barnhill Family
Susan Plath says
Beth and Marta,
Your brother sounds like a great person. I’m sorry I never had an opportunity to meet him. Please know that you and your whole family are in my prayers. I hope you find some comfort in the stories you will share with each other the next days.
Susan
Mary Jo Maierle Smallwood says
Dearest Mitschke Family, I was stunned to read about Bobbie’s passing. What a tragedy for all of you. I have such sweet memories of the family having spent 13 years as part of the Cathedral Schools. I don’t remember Bobbie well but was always impressed by this large and amazing family. I can still recite the names of all the siblings from Mary to Marta and everyone in between. I am certain that the void left by Bobbie’s absence will be immensely felt by everyone who knew him. I only wish I had the fortune to have known him as the remarkable man that he grew to become. God Bless all of you as you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Dorothy McCarter says
Ellie and John, Mike and I extend our deepest sympathies to you on the passing of your brother. Although we didn’t know him personally, we are certain he was a very special person. Take care.
Mike and Dorothy McCarter
Eileen Terhaar says
I am so sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. I have many fond memories of Bob during our school years at Sacred Heart High School. My sincere sympathies to the whole Mitschke Family. You will all be in my prayers. May God hold you all in the palm of His hand during this very difficult time. God Bless you all.
Connie Anders says
Mary, Ellie, Carlie, Jack and the Mitschke Family: Having lost a brother in an accident, I know what a shock Bob’s death is for you. My sincerest, deepest sympathy goes out to all of you at this most difficult time. Much love to you all. Connie
Donna Borman says
My prayers are for peace and comfort to surround all of your family during this heartbreaking time. I pray that each of you will find hope and love will prevail even as you go through this time of grief.
Linda O'Connell says
My prayers and condolences to all of you in the Mitschke Family. I think of all the years we spend growing up together and the last time I saw Bob. It was at the beer gardens during the Stampede. He was a great soul,
My deepest sympathy, Linda
Brad and Stephanie Munk says
Our deepest sympathies to you Jacquie and girls….Brads reflections on Bob … He was the best of the best of Lineman. And I will miss him.
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Jim McGee says
I knew Bob when he was still a meter reader at MPC. He and Pat Glueckert got me started on the path to being a lineman. Bob was always encouraging me in my apprenticeship and was always a true friend. I miss you Bob. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers to you , Jacquie , and all your family.
Pattie Kingston says
To the family of Bob … my thoughts and prayers are with today. I am from Butte and never had the pleasure of meeting Bob. From what I’ve read, he was a great man. However, we were one big family at NorthWestern Energy. Prayers are with all of you.
Kevin & Lynda Willms says
Jacquie, girls and his ‘family at NWE’,
Our hearts are heavy hearing this news, Bob’s honesty & integrity were superior and few men could follow his footsteps. He never had a bad day, and he truly was one of the good guys. May you find strength in your faith, family & friends.
Stephen R. Sullivan says
I love you Uncle Bob. Thank you for being my Godfather.