Jeannette Rae Kautz

Jeannette Rae Kautz (nee Cunningham) passed away peacefully in her home attended by family on January 19, 2024 in Missoula at the age of 91.

Jeannette is survived by her six children, Gregory (Sheilah), Gary (Danette), Guy (Robin), Katherine (Kevin Cronquist), Julie (Christopher Hilgers) and Karen (Mike McGee).  She is also survived by her thirteen grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her husband Glenn H. Kautz, her parents Ora and Katherine Cunningham of Billings, Montana, her sister Eva, her brothers, Robert, Calvin and William Cunningham and her grandson Ryan Kautz.

Jeannette was born on March 28, 1932, in Billings, Montana. She graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1950.   She married her high school sweetheart Glenn in 1951.  Jeannette and Glenn remained in Billings to work and start a family. Glenn worked as a salesman in an appliance store and Jeannette worked as a telephone operator. Glenn took a position as a manager of the GESCO store in Butte, Montana in 1961, bringing his wife Jeannette and their four children to the Mile High City. The family moved to Missoula, Montana in 1971 when Glenn became the store manager for Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED). The family, now consisting of six children, moved with Glenn and Jeannette to Missoula.

After Glenn retired in 1997, he and Jeannette remained in Missoula to serve as a central hub for their large family to visit. They loved their property at Seeley Lake and spent many happy hours lakeside with friends and family. Glenn and Jeannette traveled on several occasions to visit France, Spain, Morocco, Mexico, and taking cruises to the Bahamas and Alaska.

Her children remember her as a kind and supportive mother who led by example with her sense of humor and love of music, books, board games, card games with tacos, and art. Jeannette was passionate about gardening, baking, and canning. She entered many items in competition at the Missoula County Fair.  Jeannette was an artist who painted, worked with ceramics, and kept the traditions of her family by knitting and sewing.

She and Glenn were supporters of the sports at the University of Montana Grizzly football and men’s and women’s basketball. They had reserved seats for many years. Mom and Dad had many types of fanwear to support all the high schools and colleges their family members supported.

Jeannette was an active and devout member of First Lutheran Church in Missoula and previously at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Butte and Trinity Lutheran Church in Billings. She sang in the choir and served with the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML).

The funeral is scheduled for 3 P.M. on Friday, January 26, 2024 at First Lutheran Church with a reception to follow at the church activity center at the same location.   Pastor David Johnson will officiate the ceremony and Melissa Johns will be the organist. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Jeannette’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to First Lutheran Church at 2808 South Ave W, Missoula, MT  59804.   Condolences can be sent to 2413 McIntosh Loop, Missoula, MT  59801.  The service can be seen via live stream on You Tube at First Lutheran Church - Missoula.

The family would like to thank the Partners in Home Care for their attentive, caring, and respectful care of our mother. She was pensive to have others in her home, but the hospice staff quickly became friends with Mom. We thank Dr. Davis, Mikelle, Faith, Ryan, Rebecca, Errol, Mary, and our in-home CNA Kimberly.