Peter Nicholas Loncar

Peter Nicholas Loncar

April 4, 1920 – April 24, 2014

“Pete” was born to Nicholas and Julia Loncar in Goldfield, Nevada as one of nine children, and the oldest boy. He was raised on the family dairy and graduated Goldfield High School in 1937.  He worked briefly for a mining company as a mill operator, and as the undersheriff prior to being inducted into the Army on December 3, 1941.  Pete spent 10 weeks in an accelerated boot camp before being shipped off to Hawaii and the South Sea Islands for the duration of the war.  During the war Pete served with the 40^th Division – 108^th Infantry Regiment, and saw action in the battles of Luzon, Arawe, Guadalcanal, New Britain, and the Philippines.  He always said the only reason he made it back alive was due to being color blind, since camouflage was ineffective.  Pete was honorably discharged in September 1945, and during his service earned a number of medals that include the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the Philippine Liberation Medal.  Shortly after his return home to Goldfield, Pete married Naomi Geib of Easton, Maryland who preceded him in death after 52 years of marriage.  Surviving Pete is brother John of Hemet, CA and all four children, Carolyn Odom (Robert), Peter Loncar Jr (Mary), Danny Loncar (Jeannie), and David Loncar (Deana), along with seven grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.  During his career Pete worked as a conductor/brakeman on the Tonopah and Goldfield Railroad, mill foreman, contract miner, Superintendent of Exploration for Newmont Mining, Mine Superintendent for Carlin Gold Mine in Carlin, Nevada, and General Manager of the Idarado Mine in Ouray, Colorado, and Kings Mountain Mine in Shelby, North Carolina.  Pete became a member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers which was great accomplishment based on his vast mining experience.  Pete retired in 1984 after 38 years with Newmont, and busied himself with family activities, wood working, gardening, fishing, hunting, and sharing a good joke.  Pete became very active with the Masons, Shriners, and Elks, and was a life member of all.  For years Pete was chairman of the Shrine Circus in Montrose and Delta, paraded with the Shriners Corvette Club, and sponsored children to the Shriner’s Hospital.   Pete was named Shriner of the Year in 1997 by the Western Colorado Shrine Club.  He served as president of the Board of Directors for the American Cancer Society coordinating the annual sales of daffodils, and was active in the First Presbyterian Church where he helped build the church addition shortly after his retirement. Pete enjoyed serving lunch at the Senior Center and would always help if called upon. 

A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church on Tuesday April 29 at 11 AM.  Pete will be buried in the family plot in Goldfield, NV.  In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in Pete’s name to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, or Hope West Hospice, PO Box 1804 Montrose, CO 81402.  Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home Montrose, CO.