John "Jack" Edward Robbins

John E. “Jack”Robbins





Beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, teacher and friend,

Jack died on Friday October 5th, 2018. He was 83 years old.



Jack was a professor of biochemistry at MSU from 1967-1992.

He was very proud to be a WWAMI pioneer.

He truly enjoyed teaching and worked hard to make his lectures interesting and entertaining.



When Jack retired he volunteered to tutor MSU students in Chemistry. He also was a volunteer for many years with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.



In his retirement Jack also loved working at MSU athletic events where he took tickets and worked in the VIP Suite.

He was a huge supporter of Women’s Basketball.



Jack was an avid bicyclist and loved playing tennis. Later in life he switched to table tennis.



He was an excellent cook and enjoyed perfecting his recipes. His peanut brittle was a favorite among many who were lucky enough to get some during the holidays.



Jack’s quick wit and “punny” nature were known to many, and he enjoyed using his humor to make others laugh. Through his health challenges he joked that his “cane made him able.”



Jack was born in Chamberlain, South Dakota on April 2nd 1935. His parents, James Quentin Robbins and Mary Lea Gladys Finnerty Robbins, had four children: Patricia Robbins Werdel, James Robbins, Jack Robbins, and Joseph Robbins.



His family moved from Pierre, South Dakota to Big Timber, MT where his father had a clothing store. Later they moved to Manhattan, MT where Jack graduated from high school in 1954. While in High school Jack met Patricia Johnson and they began dating. Jack and Pat married in 1958 in Bozeman on December 27th.



He got his undergraduate degree at Carroll College in Helena, MT, and then went on to MSU to get his Master’s and then his PhD. After graduate school he had a Post-Doctoral appointment at the University of Oregon.



In 1967 their daughter Gwen Robbins was born and in 1972, their son John was born.

Gwen is married to Stephen Whitney and they have two children, Sarah and Gabriel.

John has one son, Jack, named after his grandfather.



Jack was a devoted member of Resurrection University Parish for many years.



Remembrances can be sent to Hospice of Bozeman Health, Shodair Hospital in Helena MT, or Resurrection University Parish.