John Kirwin Werner

Born and raised on the windy plains of Cut Bank, Montana, John Kirwin Werner's spirit was shaped by a love of the outdoors and a close-knit family. He was above all a devoted husband, father and grandfather and a passionate advocate of peace, justice and the protection of the natural world. His physical passing of unknown causes came unexpectedly on November 17, 2015 in his beloved Montana home at the foothills of the Mission Mountains.

As an adventuresome boy growing up in Cut Bank, Kirwin enjoyed hunting, fishing and backpacking. He fell in love with Glacier National Park and spent countless days climbing, hiking and backpacking. Along with his friend Bob, he climbed most of the major peaks in Glacier Park as well as the Continental Divide which traverses the park.

At school Kirwin excelled in both his studies and athletics, lettering in football, basketball and track. After graduating from Cut Bank High in '59, Kirwin attended Carroll College where he pursued both a Pre-Med degree and a pretty gal named Carol McCarvel from Butte, MT. Graduating from Carroll in '63, he began a Teaching Assistantship at Notre Dame where he received his PhD in Biology with an emphasis in herpetology.

Before serving a 3-year military stint with the 406th Medical Lab in Japan, Kirwin wed his college sweet heart thus beginning their lifelong international journey together. While overseeing the parasitology labs at Camp Zama US military base in Japan, the couple welcomed their greatest pride and joy: their two children Erik and Lisa.

Kirwin began his career as a professor at Northern Michigan University in Marquette in '71. For the next 21 years he touched the lives of countless students and faculty while overseeing graduate programs and teaching courses in Herpetology, General Ecology, and Human Anatomy. While at NMU he received the Distinguished Professor Award from the state of Michigan and served as head of the Biology department. As a father and husband he instilled his passions for outdoor activities, sports, and music in his growing children. From 1978-1980 the family lived in Cali, Colombia where Kirwin completed a two-year stint with Tulane Medical School researching the tropical disease, Leishmaniasis. In '90, Kirwin received a visiting professorship in Chengdu, China where he spent 6 months working with Chinese graduate students in herpetology.

In '92, Kirwin and Carol would leave the pristine woods and lakes of Upper Michigan, which they had grown to love, in order to return to their first love- the mountains and prairies of Montana. They settled outside Ronan, MT where Kirwin taught at the Salish Kootenai College. He spent the better part of the next two decades working to re-instate the Leopard Frog with the Tribal Wildlife Program while traipsing throughout the state conducting amphibian and reptile surveys. Kirwin was credited as the prime author on the first ever published guidebook of 'Amphibians and Reptiles of Montana' in 2004. In 2005 Kirwin received the Carroll College Academic Achievement Award for his contributions to Science.

Kirwin cared as deeply about social causes as he did environmental issues. He volunteered regularly at the Bread Basket and was presently serving as secretary of the Montana Environmental Information Center board. He supported the Democrat party on civil rights, environmental and health care issues. While in the UP, he helped establish the UP Environmental Coalition.

When not working Kirwin could be found playing in the outdoors. He was an avid backpacker, bicyclist, skier, snowboarder and runner. In short, he was a born athlete who loved athletic challenges and challenged his family likewise.

Kirwin leaves behind his wife and soul-mate, Carol, his beloved children Erik and Lisa, 5 grandchildren, Josh, Chris, Luke, Ava and Julia, 4 siblings and countless family members. A celebration of Kirwin's life will take place in the natural world he so loved this coming spring.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Montana Environmental Information Center, 107 W. Lawrence St. Helena, MT 59601, Polson Soup Kitchen, 101 7th Ave. West, Polson, MT 59860, or the Lake County Democrats, PO Box 1044, Polson MT.

Read John Werner's Obituary and Guestbook on www.groganfuneralhome.com.