Hello everyone, my name is Matthew Stimac.

My best friend of almost 20 years, Eugene Robert Elzinga IV, suffered a catastrophic stroke on August 7th, a month after his 40th birthday. Despite Providence St Patrick Hospital's compassionate, professional work, Eugene died in the morning of Wednesday, August 13th, with loved ones by his side, peacefully and without struggle

Born in Hollywood, Florida, Eugene joined the military straight out of high school, eventually landing at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana, my home town, where he immediately began making friends and leaving an impression.

After leaving the Air Force due to a back injury near the end of his enlistment, Eugene headed to Missoula, having thoroughly fallen in love with the state of Montana. Like in Great Falls, he immediately made friends with the comic book, anime, and gamer crowds, as well as the Japanese Student Association, the alternative music scene, the fighting game community, the cosplay crowd, the comic artists circle, the community theater folks, the local convention MisCon, the city pool, and so, so many more people

We, as his friends and loved ones, want to do what we can to memorialize Eugene's many interests, loves, and curiosities, and intend to use your donations for a cemetery memorial, funeral reception, and memorials at the many places that want to host one, as well as charitable donations in his name to the many community hubs and charities he championed

With love, thank you