Walter "Jersey" Jankunas

HAMILTON - Walter (Jersey) Jankunas left the playing field February 15, 2012 walking straight and tall, blue eyes sparkling and laughing freely at the end of the 9th inning of his final game. He returned to the dugout pain free from the cancer that pulled him out of the game. Walter was born in Newark, New Jersey, on March 30, 1936 to Joseph and Vera (Simanitus) Jankunas. He was the youngest of 7 children.

Walt loved people and made many friends from Newark, Salt Lake City, Sarasota, FL and finally Hamilton, MT in 1993. In his early years in Newark, he and his 5 brothers were a handful for the Newark police, whether they were chasing rats in the junkyard or parachuting off the third floor of their apartment building. Walt was raised on motorcycles and in sidecars. Once he got an Indian up to 140 miles mph on the streets of Newark. Harley Davidson and Indian motorcycles were known to mysteriously disappear and their parts would show up throughout New Jersey. Dad had a scar on his belly due to evading the cops by jumping a coal canal with a 1938 Harley; he landed on the other side of the coal pile with the handlebars stuck in his gut. He drove himself to the city hospital.

He was a bartender/bouncer at Manny's Tavern in Salt Lake for years, but mostly he worked the grocery business, from the warehouse to assistant manager, he knew every angle of grocery. He was a #1 pool player in the Salt Lake bar scene; he could run the table for 8 hours.

Jersey loved socializing; everyone was either a "cool cat" or "squirrelly." He loved music (Whiskey River Take My Mind), bowling, reading, swimming, cooking, crossword puzzles and Scrabble with Peggy. He always attended his children's sporting events and was there for every course record Dale set in track. His favorite sport was baseball; he played it and watched it ferociously. He also loved boxing and football (go Dolphins!).

Old Jerz loved fishing; he could catch trout on the Bitterroot like nobody's fool. He got some huge ones and some got away. His grand kids loved the giant crawdads he trapped. His sense of humor was right up there with Dangerfield, Carlin and Cosby. He believed society started going downhill when the bible was taken out of the public schools. He hated seeing America becoming a "socialist, commie country."

The man I've loved for 57 years has gone Beyond the Sunset. I will always treasure my sweet memories with him. God gave us 4 beautiful love gifts; our children.

He loved his family in his own way and got a good laugh out of his grandchildren. He loved dogs, cats and squirrels. He survived by his wife Peggy, of Hamilton. His sons, Dale (Keely) Jankunas of Victor, Shane Jankunas of South Korea, Jen (Terry) Peterson of Salt Lake, UT, Susie (late; Todd) Wager of Duchesne, UT. Also, 12 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and nephew, Peter (Allyson) Jankunas of North Arlington, NJ. Walter was the last of the Crazy Jankunas Family of Chapel Street, Newark, NJ.

Ashes will be let loose at his fishing spot this summer so he can hang out with the big ones. A private service has been held. The family requests no donations but seek old fashioned comfort with cards and notes sent to Peggy, reflecting on how God has touched you thru Walter's smile, laughter, humor and his beautiful blue eyes.