John Edwin "Eddie" Dea Iii

John Edwin Dea III, 52, of Great Falls went home to be with the Lord on Monday, November 23, 2015 after complications from a stroke at Peace Hospice. Eddie was surrounded by family and friends.A funeral service will be held Monday, November 30, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Schnider funeral home is handling arrangements.Ed spent his adult life helping others. He began working in healthcare as an EMT in 1984 for Bicsak Ambulance service, and later for Mercy Flight. He became one of the earliest groups of paramedics in the area. In 1990, he earned his bachelors degree in nursing from MSU, subsequently working in the ER and on Mercy Flight for many years. In 2008, he received his graduate degree as a Nurse Practitioner, and worked in a variety of areas including the ER. He had planned to continue on working toward a doctorate degree.He was nicknamed Fast Eddie because of his passion for boat racing. Eddies other passions included water skiing, barefooting, jet skiing, scuba diving and anything to do with being on or near water. He loved hot weather and spent many summers at Seeley and Holter Lake with family and friends.Eddie will be remembered for his genuine love and compassion for helping people also for his jolly laugh and heartwarming smile and his beautiful piercing blue eyes. Eddie loved and was always so proud of his daughters. They were truly the reason Eddie hung on for as long as he did. He struggled with health issues for many years, but never let it slow him down. Eddie touched so many lives and was truly loved by everyone he met and will be missed by everyone who knew him. His daughters, Lynda and Melissa loved their daddy with all of their heart and were always there for him.Eddie left behind two loving daughters, Lynda Dea (Daddys Peanut) of Missoula and Melissa Dea (Daddys Pumpkin) of Great Falls; former wife Darcy Dea of Great Falls; brother Jim (Mary) Dea of Great Falls; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Alice Dea.In lieu of flowers, a trust fund has been set up at US Bank for the girls.