Tuesday, August 23, 2022

John Borgreen - We lost another Conservation Warrior and Great Human Being

 John Borgreen Passing

John Borgreen on our public access trip to Pishkun Reservoir   



It is with great sadness, that I share the news of the death of John Borgreen, on Aug. 20th, 2022. John was an amazing man in many ways, but for Montana, he was also a leader in the hunting/angling conservation community. You can see just a small snip of John's work when you read his bio (click on his pic to open bio) at the Montana Sportsmen Alliance site, an organization he helped to found.

 

 

John was a retired printing pressman and a Navy veteran. He lived in Great Falls with his wife, Julie. He was a lifelong outdoorsman and activist in sportsmen’s issues. This pic of John and Julie, was taken when we were all at the Montana Outdoor Hall of Fame awards.


 

 

 

 

John's service is being held:
Friday, Aug. 26th
11:00 am
Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Association
1410 13th St. S., Great Falls, MT 59405

google map link

A reception will follow at the next-door Scottish Rite Childhood Language Clinic, 1304 13th St. S.

If you have any questions, please contact Joe Perry, who will be speaking a few words at John's service - 406-450-3013 or circles@3rivers.net .

I met John when I began working on conservation. He quickly became one of my closest friends and a mentor, frequently, jokingly threatening to come down and kick my ass if I didn't bill enough or get enough sleep, he was like a watchful brother/uncle.

John loved that Charlie Russell "Christmas Dinner" painting. I loved that he sent the same card a number of years and stuck by his love oft the card.

John was up at Glacier one year, he had a disturbing dream that he called me about the next morning, about all the various interests he felt were undermining conservation in Montana, that all the great gains MT had made, back from the Brink, that these efforts were "hellbent" on putting wildife back to the brink. I turned his concern into one of my Satirical Magpie editorial cartoons, with him in it - he loved it. In fact, John was one of my consulting partners on the cartoons, the conservation postcards and the fuller newsletter. His printing background got to be dusted off and utilized. I will so miss his sarcastic sense of humor.
 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I filmed John on the Boadle Rd/Pishkun Reservoir trip. He shared his stories of growing up, his father and uncle taking the kids to fish, valuing public lands and access. As soon as I can, I will edit that video and share it. John shared much wisdom and history in that interview.

John was another of those giants that have gone before us, whose shoulders we stand on.
He will be sorely missed.





Thank you,
Kathryn QannaYahu Kern
406-579-7748
www.EMWH.org
Helena, MT