Thomas Pinnock III

Thomas George Pinnock III passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones on July 13th from cancer. Born to Thomas and Dorothy Pinnock February 22, 1952 in St. Cloud, MN, his family moved to Rochester, WA in 1958 where he grew up hunting in the forests and fishing in the many waterways (activities he would continue to enjoy for the entirety of his life). After graduating from Rochester High School, he went on to get his nursing degree from Clark County Community College. He then held a variety of careers in health care and emergency services (Critical Care RN, fireman-paramedic, sheriff’s deputy). It was during his time working for the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department in Washington, he met and fell in love with JoAnn Pakar, who he married after a brief courtship. They had three children together (Anna, Thomas, & William) and raised them in Washington until moving the family to Malta, Montana in 1992. He fell in love with the freedom and openness of Montana, and it would be his home for the rest of his life (except for a brief stint in Missouri). He was a voracious reader with a special interest in the history of the Roman Empire and the American Civil War. A lifelong autodidact, he had a wide variety of interests that he mastered by the sheer force of his will. He made bullets, photographed the expansiveness of space, took up blacksmithing, digitally restored photographs, learned to play a multitude of musical instruments (mountain dulcimer, harmonica & Irish harp being amongst his favorites), worked on home improvements, roasted coffee, and even with all of those interests, found time to engage in his passion for shooting and reloading. He loved Phillips County and was always up for a chat with the good people that call this wonderful place home. He is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, JoAnn, his children Anna Byrne (nee Pinnock), Thomas Pinnock IV, and William Pinnock, his twin sister Sarah Pinnock, and niece Jennifer Page. The family will hold a private memorial to scatter his ashes and they sincerely thank everyone for all the love and support over the decades.

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