Joseph Allen Switzler

In Loving Memory of

Joseph Allen Switzler

July 24, 1945 - December 23, 2025

It is with great sadness that Joseph Allen Switzler, age 80, peacefully passed away in Gaithersburg, MD, on December 23, 2025.

Joe’s roots began in Montana. Born to Frances Switzler and Joseph Rae on July 24, 1945, in Sheridan, MT, he spent the first years of his life with just his mom. He often shared memories of her working hard to provide for them. Joe greatly admired his mom and held her to a high standard. He loved her tremendously.

Eventually, his mom, Frances, married LeRoy Switzler in 1948, and his brother, Lowell Switzler, joined the family in 1950. He loved Lowell tremendously and did what he could to protect him. Joe always shared stories about them palling around in Bozeman, MT, and the memories they made together.

Joe spent his childhood and young adulthood in the Madison and Gallatin Valleys, with most of his time in Bozeman. At age 18, Joe enlisted in the Army National Guard with his childhood (and lifetime) friend, Ron. He returned to Montana and earned his bachelor's degree from Montana State University. Continuing his military career, he attended and graduated from the Sergeant Major’s Academy in El Paso, TX, in 1984.

One of Joe’s greatest joys was being a father to Angela Switzler Parikh, who was born in 1977. Any time he could spend with her brought him joy, especially when they traveled around the U.S. or abroad.

In 1986, Joe expanded his travels from Montana to the East Coast, visiting Maryland and eventually Virginia. From that point on, he completed several tours with the Army. When those tours ended, he made the East Coast his home. He flourished and loved his time there, but he always dreamed of returning to MT, where his roots and memories called him home. He retired from Fannie Mae in 2007 and from UNISYS in 2017. One of Joe’s proudest career moments was retiring from the Army after 42 years of service.

Back in 2001, Joe met Michael Park, an important person in his life. They bonded over shared interests like research, cinema, swimming, and recreational gambling. In 2017, they happily got married and have been enjoying a wonderful life together ever since. Their adventures took them to exciting places such as Las Vegas, NY, Florida, Bozeman, Culbertson, and Denver.

Finally, in 2006 and 2009, Joe was blessed with his grandchildren, Kerala and Jaxon. He always made time to be there for their birthdays and other significant milestones.

During his lifetime, Joe had many passions. From jewelry making and stone cutting to trains, he always found something to challenge himself. Biking was a passion for him, and he enjoyed the freedom of the open road. He biked thousands of miles across DC, VA, Montana, and Denver. In the middle of his life, Joe’s passion for his family grew into a love of genealogy. It was a massive project for him, and he would spend hours in the National Archives searching for family ties and history. He has binders of information on his family that date back to the 1600s.

Joe always made sure his family knew how much he loved them, and he loved sharing his stories and making them laugh. He was well known for his hyperbole and Montanan ranch humor. One wink from him told you that you were special to him.

Joe was preceded in death by his sister, Diane Switzler; his birth father, Joseph Rae; his father, LeRoy Switzler; his brother, Lowell Switzler; and his mother, Frances Switzler. He is survived by his husband, Michael Pak; his daughter, Angela Parikh, and her husband, Sagar Parikh; his grandchildren, Kerala and Jaxon Parikh; and his close friends, Ron and Sharon Matney.

The funeral will take place in Bozeman, MT, at a later date, with the burial of his ashes alongside the Switzler family in Twin Bridges, MT.

We invite you to join us in honoring Joseph’s life on this dedicated webpage. Your condolences, stories, videos, and pictures will be cherished by the family and provide comfort during this difficult time.

Care Entrusted to Thibadeau Mortuary Service, p.a.

124 E. Diamond Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-5009

301-495-4950

www.InterFaithFunerals.com