Scott Mansch smansch@greatfallstribune.com

The Great Falls High football team in 1983 was known for its defense.

And the pride of that defense was middle linebacker Jon Wanago.

The former Bison and Montana State star died suddenly on Monday in Las Vegas, leaving many football fans in his hometown stunned. Jon was 51.

“It was so sudden. No one expected it,” Jon’s brother, Josh Wanago said Tuesday. “The good thing is he didn’t suffer. That’s the only good thing.”

Jon Wanago was a star middle linebacker at Great Falls High, graduating in 1984. He led the Bison to the Class AA state championship as a senior as the Bison edged crosstown rival C.M. Russell High 13-3 in the title game.

“He was a guy who could play and you had to be aware of where he was on the field all the time,” said retired CMR football coach Jack Johnson. “A great high school football player and a great player for the Cats. It’s a sad deal.”

Wanago played at Montana State and as a senior noseguard was named first-team all-Big Sky Conference and honorable mention All-American. The 1988 all-Big Sky defense included such famous names as Tim Hauck and Mike Rankin of Montana.

Wanago, among the top Great Falls performers who ever played at Montana State, belonged right with them.

“Jon was a leader but he wasn’t a big rah-rah guy,” said Dale Pohle, the retired Great Falls High football coach. “He was a leader because of the way he played and practiced. Always 100 percent. He wasn’t out front leading cheers or anything like that, but he was a leader. Just by his actions.”

When Pohle first took over the Bison he made it known how to read a clock. There was the actual time. And then there was “Bison time,” which meant you were 10 minutes early for any football activity.

“The three years I was around Jon,” said Pohle with a chuckle, “he was always standing there waiting by the door. You never had to round up old Jon. He loved the game and he just couldn’t wait to be a part of it.”

Josh Wanago was also a football star for the Bison, leading GFH to a state championship in 1988. A knee injury ended Josh’s Bobcat football career prematurely, but he worked many years in the MSU athletic administration and now is employed in marketing and promotions for a Classic Rock radio station in Bozeman.

Josh said Jon, who ran a business dedicated to improving game-day experiences and revenue streams for university athletic programs, was in Montana just a few weeks ago. There was no sign of any physical distress. Josh said doctors told the family it appears Jon’s death was caused by a blood clot that moved into the lungs.

“He worked out every day and was pretty active and healthy,” Josh said. “We’re all pretty shocked.”

Jon was known for disrupting defenses on the football field.

“He was tough-nosed and got things done,” said Josh of his brother’s high school career. “One of those guys who was in on probably every play.”

That rubbed off.

“I grew up in his shadow and wanted to emulate him, or be better than him,” Josh said.

But that was difficult.

And so this week is week is for his family, which includes brother Joe and their mother, Joyce. Former Bison and Bobcats are doing what they can to help, Josh said.

“Just the support from his teammates, both Great Falls High and at Montana State, these last 24 hours has been unbelievable,” Josh said.

A story or two about Jon?

“He was a good brother and just one of the guys who lived life to the fullest and got the most out of it,” Josh said.

Toughest Bison of all-time?

“I’d put him up there with some of them, for sure,” Josh said.

Said Pohle: “He was one of the toughest guys. Jon certainly was. He was a hard-nosed kid who loved football. He loved the weight training. He loved the wind sprints. Football was his life.”

Jon was not mean-spirited, Pohle said. Nor was he a poor teammate in any sense.

“He was one of the boys,” Pohle said. “But when the kickoff started he cranked ‘er up a notch. He was a big physical son-of-a-gun. Really liked to play and he liked his teammates.”

And his coaches.

“Jon had pride in being a Bison,” Josh said. “He really loved played for Dale Pohle and Dennis Renning.”

To be sure, it’s a sad time for Great Falls football fans. Because for many of us, it seems like yesterday when first Jon Wanago, and then his little brother Josh, were leading Bison teams to so many victories.

“The town of Great Falls installed a lot of toughness,” Josh said. “You grew up tough here and that’s how you played football here. We grew up walking the hallway at Great Falls, the shadows of greatness because all the teams in the past paved the way.

“There’s a lot of heritage there. And Jon took pride in that.”

Arrangements are incomplete. Josh said more information will be forthcoming soon for his many friends back home in Great Falls.

“We’re going to have a big celebration of life,” Josh said. “It will be a big party.”