James R. "Jim" Biscup

James R. Jim Biscup, 84, an Air Force Veteran and retired middle school teacher died at Peace Hospice of natural causes on February 25, 2015.Visitation is Monday, March 2, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Schnider Funeral Home. A vigil service is Monday, March 2, 2015 at 7 p.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. A funeral liturgy will be celebrated at 11 a.m. at Holy Spirt Catholic Church on Tuesday March 3, 2015. Cremation will follow with private inurnment of ashes at Hillcrest Mausoleum.Jim is survived by his daughter Kathleen Kathi Biscup of Great Falls and a son, Michael F. (Melissa) Biscup of Duvall, WA; brother-in-law Dean Drew of Buffalo, NY and a brother David (Marsha) Biscup of Salamanca, NY; and granddaughters Chloe and Tess Biscup of Duvall, WA.Jim was born August 20, 1930 to Michael and Florence Biscup in Salamanca, NY. He was raised there and graduated from Salamanca High School in 1948. He was the seventh of eight children.Jim enlisted in the Air Force in July 1951 and married Catherine Kay Rickert in Denver, CO in 1952. Jim served at the time of the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. He had tours of duty at Tyndall AFB, FL; Thule AFB, Greenland; Lincoln AFB, NE; Izmir, Turkey; Brooks AFB, TX; Wiesbaden, Germany and Malmstrom AFB, MT. He was an instructor at the School of Aerospace Medicine in Bioenvironmental Engineering and was selected to the position of Sergeant Major of the school. Jim was awarded several medals among which are the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster. He retired as a Chief Master Sergeant with twenty six and a half years of honorable service.Jim pursued higher education while in the Air Force and graduated from the University of Nebraska. After retiring from the Air Force he taught middle school at Holy Family and Blessed Trinity Catholic Schools for twenty years. He was a Eucharistic Minister for his church and visited the homebound and shut-ins. He was faithful in his visits and found his ministry very rewarding. Jim was active in the development of the state Brain Injury Association and served on the first board of directors. He also started the Great Falls Brain Injury Support Group.Jim enjoyed traveling, photography, camping, painting, skiing and most of all teaching. Many of his former students still keep in contact with him. His granddaughters, Chloe and Tess were a special joy to him.Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife and best friend Kay of fifty four years and also his parents Michael and Florence Biscup; sisters Veronica Donahey, Marjorie Powalski, Florence Loney Drew, Eleanore Swanson; and brothers Charles and Victor Biscup.Memorials may be sent to Msgr. Joseph Gluszek Scholarship fund for Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 2820 Central Avenue, Great Falls, MT 59401 or Peace Hospice, 1101 26th St. S, Great Falls, MT 59405.