Wyman Elroy Stuchlik

Wyman Elroy Stuchlik, also known as Jim, was the only son of Ancil and Veila (Smith) Stuchlik, born March 3, 1933 in a soddie on the family homestead near Bogue, Kansas. Attending Hill City High School, he was a rising star in athletics. His true passion and love of sports allowed him to letter in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He was recognized by his peers and coaches as an MVP in basketball and voted captain of the team. He held the record for most points scored in a season at 223 points for 19 games. He never lost his love of sports and continued coaching football from Pop Warner to high school varsity football teams in Bozeman and Manhattan, Montana and Hill City, Kansas. He also coached track, basketball, and little league. He officiated high school football at Bozeman, Montana. After graduating from Hill City High School in December of 1951, he joined the Navy and was stationed on a destroyer, the USS De Haven DD-727 during the Korean War. While he was active in the Navy, he received commendations for National Defense, Good Conduct, Korean Service, United Nations and China Service. He was honorably discharged in 1955. He was proud to have served in the military. In 1956 he went to work for AT&T Telephone Company as a lineman. He climbed telephone poles stringing line from San Diego to El Centro, California. He worked his way up as a repairman and then to installation. Because of his extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of the telephone company, he received a promotion in management as First Level Supervisor. In 1959 while living in San Diego, Wyman met and married his wife of 58 years, Sylvia Isom. The following year their first son, Richard was born. A second son Joe was born in 1962. Cindy, their first daughter, was born in 1963, and the twins Michele and Mike in 1966. Six years later the family built their first home in Jamul, California and then, in 1977, the family moved to Bozeman, Montana. Wyman transferred from AT&T and worked for US West Phone Company until he retired giving 30 years of service to the phone company. He was very proud of his service missing only a total of eight days. After retirement he sold cars at various dealerships in Bozeman. The people he worked with and the public enjoyed his sense of humor. His outgoing personality made him very successful. Living in Montana was a dream for hunting elk, deer and antelope and fishing. Every year he and his sons planned their hunts in the Gravely Mountains. The boys rode their horses and Wyman rode his mule. They usually camped for a week and if they had time it was longer, sometimes up to a month. Friends and relatives from California and Kansas often joined him and the boys for the hunt. He enjoyed camping and fishing in West Yellowstone and the surrounding rivers and lakes, especially the Ruby Valley. Wyman and Sylvia moved to Hill City where he became involved with high school and junior high sports. When he wasn’t coaching he was fishing for catfish. He also served on the City Council. After five years they moved back to Montana. Wyman’s love of Hill City and the town never left his memory. Summer vacations were planned around Memorial Day weekend. He packed up his family and drove from San Diego to Kansas for his high school reunion. Seeing old classmates and fishing with his dad and family gave him great pleasure. He never forgot his friends in Hill City and called them quite often. He frequently reminisced about his childhood, especially spending time with his Grandpa Smith and going to Bogue in an old wagon pulled by two mules. Wyman and Sylvia moved to Arizona in 2013, where he passed away October 19, 2017. Wyman was preceded in death by his parents, Ancil and Velia Stuchlik. Survivors include his wife Sylvia of Fort Mohave, Arizona; sons: Richard of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, Joseph and wife Christine of Manhattan, Montana, and Michael of Lake Havasu City, Arizona; daughters: Cynthia and husband Reid Peabody of Joliet, Montana and Michele Esperti and husband James of Manhattan, Montana; eight grandchildren: Brandi Peabody, Zechariah Peabody, Emmet Peabody, Cortney Stuchlik, Richard Stuchlik and wife Abby, Cody Stuchlik, Vincent and Lucas Esperti. Also surviving is his sister MarLayne Boller of Norton, Kansas and many relatives and friends.