John William Jaksha

Mr. John William Jaksha passed away Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at St. James Healthcare. He was born in Butte on Friday, June 9, 1939, to Yugoslavian immigrants Joseph and Angěla (Ancely) Jaksha. On August 15, 1943, John was seriously injured, and he and his four siblings were orphaned when a tragic automobile accident near Crackerville Junction took the lives of both his parents. John and his sister Mary were raised in Butte by John and Frances Golobic, attending Greeley School and Butte High School. He started working at a very young age, operating rides at the Columbia Gardens. When he was 18, he started working at the High Ore Mine. He was drafted into the United States Army, and following his honorable discharge, he returned to Butte, where he attended Montana Tech. He also attended Carroll College in Helena and ultimately earned his teaching degree from Dillon Normal College, now the University of Montana Western. John worked as the Director of Education at Montana State Prison for many years, retiring from there in 1986. He went on to work as a substitute teacher at the Butte Alternative School, East Junior High, and Butte High School. John was a member of the McQueen Volunteer Fire Department and served as Fire Chief for several years. He belonged to the SNPJ Lodge, where he was instrumental in arranging the Polka Festivals with the help of other relatives and friends for 28 years, raising funds for 17 scholarships over the years. John married Sandi Mihelich at Holy Savior Church on July 15, 1967, and she survives him. Also surviving are his sons and daughters-in-law, John and Sara Jaksha and Steve and Julie Jaksha, all of Butte; daughters and son-in-law, Stacie and Joe Dwyer of Butte and Julie and Russ Des Jardins of Meridian, Idaho; and grandchildren Lily, Kylie, and Paisley Jaksha, Seth, Hailey, and Kenzie Jaksha, Luke Suttey and BaleeJo Dwyer, and Keith and Gavin Des Jardins. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Gutkowski of Anaheim, California; his nephew and partner, Mark Gutkowski and Marco Carocari; his nieces Sandy Fischer and Chris Lepore, his cousin, Zalkie Ancely; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Leonard and Vickie Mihelich; Mark and Sherrie Mihelich; and several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, John was preceded in death by his brothers, Joe, Frank, and Bill Jaksha. And nephew Tim Gutkowski and wife Stacy. Cremation has taken place. Visitation for John will begin Tuesday morning, August 18, at 10 a.m. at St. Ann Catholic Church. Funeral mass will follow at 11 o'clock, and interment of ashes will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Shriners Hospital of Spokane in John’s honor.

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John William Jaksha

June 9, 1939 - August 11, 2026