Michael Fredrich Karlovich, 81 of Great Falls passed away October 30 at his residence of natural causes. A Memorial Service will be held at Croxford Funeral Home in The Rose Room Chapel on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at 11am.

Michael was born April 18, 1933 to Rudolph and Levone L (Buck) Karlovich. He attended Collins and Paris Gibson Schools. He moved to Missoula, Mt in 1946, and attended Whittier School and Missoula County High School. Michael served in the United States Navy from August 1950 to February 1954, and served on several aircraft carriers with Fighter Squadron 24 Carrier Air Group 2 Task Force 77. He completed 2 tours of duty during the Korean War.

After his honorable discharge he lived in Anaconda, Mt., he then returned to Great Falls and married Martha Keck on May 4, 1957. This union brought three wonderful children, daughters; Christine Karlovich and Kelly (Tom) Hugg of Great Falls, son; Michael (Catherine) Karlovich of Apex, NC, grandchildren, Amy (Kevin) Davis and Kevin (Rosa) Hugg of Great Falls, and many nieces and nephews.

Michael joined the Great Falls Fire Department in August of 1958, serving as Firefighter, Firefighter First Class, Captain, Battalion Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, and after 29 year of service retired as Fire Chief in October of 1987.

Michael had a big heart and was always willing to help out anyway he could. He would give you his last dime if you needed it. He enjoyed working with computers, i-Pads and shopping on Amazon.com. He would often ask for help with his computer or i-Pad, but if you waited to answer his question he would be able to figure it out for himself.

He spent 15 winters in Yuma, Az with summers back home in Great Falls. His best advice: “Any problem that you can solve on your own isn’t a big problem and isn’t worth worrying about.”

Michael is preceded in death by both his parents, sisters; Dolores Barclay of Anaconda, Mt, and Helen Heath of Missoula Mt.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations are suggested to wounded warrior project at: www.woundedwarriorproject.org

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