John Kalmbach

Obituary for John Kalmbach July 21, 1942 – April 15, 2012 John Kalmbach was born gasping for air as a “blue baby” on July 21, 1942 in Vale, South Dakota. He was never quiet again until he passed peacefully, yet unexpectedly, in his sleep on April 15, 2012 in Lake Havasu, AZ. He married his high school classmate, Judy Nelson during his senior year of college. At the time he was a full time student as well as working underground as a hard rock gold miner in the Homestake Gold Mine in Lead, SD. Upon his graduation with an accounting degree, he moved to Seattle where he began working for Boeing. John’s career progressed rapidly but in the mid-70's John and Judy decided to part ways so they could get back to being "good friends" which they truly were until his death. Judy and John, had two children Jolene and John Kalmbach. Also in the Mid-70’s, John discovered a new love… the Last Frontier; the Greatland of Alaska. It was North to the Future. He worked there as the VP of Finance with Calista, an Alaska Native Corporation. One of his greatest business accomplishments was procuring the financing for Calista to build the Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Anchorage. In 1976, he started a financial consulting/construction management company in the Eskimo cultural center of Bethel, Alaska and surrounding villages. It soon became apparent that getting to these various remote locations on a timely basis was a nightmare. So, he bought an airplane, got his pilot license for both wheels and floats and managed to accumulate a couple thousand flight hours in the "bush". It began as a business necessity, but aviation became his most favorite hobby. John remarried to Donna Kalmbach (nee Phillips) in 1978. He sold his business and “retired” in 1982, which is the same year as his son, Justin was born. With his arrival, he and Donna became the "modern" family with his kids, (John & Jolene) her kid, (Karen), and their kid, Justin. Since “retirement”, John was always busy with projects in the four locations he loved, Skwentna, AK, Mazatlan, Mexico, Herron Island, WA and Lake Havasu, AZ. In reality, John never stopped being active whether it was in the business world, or in the lives of his children, whom he enjoyed calling daily for check-ins. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Helen Kalmbach of Lead, SD and his sister Lorraine Huskins of Phoenix, AZ. He is survived by his Wife, Donna Kalmbach, sister Debra Heupel (Marlo) of Lead, SD, his three children, Jolene Kalmbach of Renton, WA, John Kalmbach (Wendy) of Renton, WA, and Justin Kalmbach (Mackenzie) of Anchorage, AK, his step daughter Karen Argo (Brian) of Phoenix, AZ. He had three granddaughters who he loved dearly; Brandi Kalmbach, Kassidi Argo and Kennedi Argo as well as many special nieces and nephews. He will be truly missed always and forever. John’s life will be celebrated and memorialized on what would have been his 70th birthday, July 21st. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Online memories can be left through www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com.