Charles William ‘Bill’ Koon

Charles William “Bill” Koon, 65, a retired teacher, passed away in the early morning hours of Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008, from complications after surgery.

Bill was born on Oct 31, 1943, in Great Falls, Mont., to Bertha (Amburs) and Charles Koon. He graduated high school and served our country in the U.S. Army with four years of service in Oakland, Calif., and Worms, Germany.

Bill married Diana Lynn Gray on Sept. 18, 1965, in Great Falls and they enjoyed more than 43 years of marriage together before his passing.

Bill received a bachelor of arts from the Montana State College, Bozeman, and went on to earn his master’s in marketing from the Montana State University Bozeman. He was a high school teacher for 30 years at Helena High School in Helena, Mont., before retiring.

Bill’s life was defined by his love for his family and his passionate career as a teacher. He thoroughly loved the outdoors. Included in that was fishing here in Montana at the Big Hole and Fort Peck with longtime best friends, and enjoying Alaska’s big fish at Cabins in Alaska, in Craig Alaska. Gourmet meals and “fine” whiskey were always on the menu for seasonal hunting trips. His passion for photography graduated him from black and white slides to today’s digital camera.

Mr. Koon’s career of teaching was never a job. His students meant the world to him. He learned just as much from them as they did from him. His spirit lives on through all of us.
Bill is preceded in death by his father, Charles William Koon. He is survived by his mother, Bertha (Amburs) Koon, of Spokane, Wash.; his wife, Diana of Helena, Mont.; a son, Charles William (Chad) Koon and his wife, Deena Koon, of Salt Lake City, Utah; a daughter, Dana Leigh VanSteenvort, and her husband, Jadin VanSteenvort, of Salt Lake City, Utah; and his granddaughter, Ryan Isabella Koon. He is also survived by a brother, James Koon, of Spokane, Wash.; and a sister, Sharon Little, of Spokane, Wash.; and numerous well-loved nieces, nephews and their children.

A Memorial Service commemorating Bill’s life is scheduled for noon on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.

Burial with military honors will follow the service at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Fort Harrison. A reception will follow the services at Jorgenson’s Restaurant in Helena. Memorials in Bill’s name are suggested to the Helena High School DECA program, care of Helena High School, 1300 Billings Ave., Helena, MT 59601. To offer condolences to Bill’s family or to share a memory of Bill, please visit www.mem.com.