John Paul Maland Sr., 81
John Paul Maland Sr., 81, of St. Maries, passed away Jan. 16, 2011, at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene.
John was born Jan. 2, 1930, in Spokane, Wash., to Henry and Gertrude (Kellner) Maland. He was proud of his Norwegian heritage. He graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane in 1947. He attended the University of Idaho in Moscow and was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
John married Patricia Ann Johnston in Saint Joseph's Catholic Church in Spokane on Dec. 27, 1950. John's career as a land developer and home builder began in Spokane before he served in the Army Air Corps and Air National Guard. He built many homes on Spokane's South Hill.
In the early 1960s, he co-owned Spokane Flying Service, a Piper Dealership at Felts Field, where he became an accomplished Charter Pilot. He flew kidney patients to Seattle, Wash., before treatment was available in Spokane. John frequently flew business trips to the St. Maries airport and the old Calder airfield after buzzing over to clear it of cows. At that time, the family enjoyed summers at their Kalispell Bay lake cabin that he built in Priest Lake.
John resumed building in 1964. He designed and coordinated the construction of the Sacred Heart Church in Lapwai. The family then moved to Lewiston where he worked as a Superintendent at the Dworshak and Little Goose Dams. He developed property in the Lewiston Orchards where the family resided for seven years. In 1972, the family settled at English Point in Hayden Lake where he built lakefront homes. He retired and moved to St. Maries where many of his children and their families reside.
John and his wife recently celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary and his birthday.
He personified the Father who was extremely devoted to his family and was always there for his wife and eight children, and they in turn, were devoted to him.
He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia, and their children, John P. "Mike" Maland Jr., St. Maries, J. Christopher Maland, St. Maries, Molly K. Falkner (Ray), Everett, Wash., Mark D. Maland, Everett, Julie P. Clark (Dan), Coeur d'Alene, T. Scott Maland, Post Falls, Todd A. Maland, St. Maries, and Peter H. Maland, Post Falls; brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Judy Johnston of Colorado, sister-in-law Jeanette Johnston of Spokane; 17 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Robert B. Maland, sister Wanda J. O'Dea, a granddaughter and great-grandson.
Funeral Mass was held Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011, at St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in St. Maries with Fr. Timothy Ritchie officiating. Family and friends gathered at Benedictine Hall following the service. Visit the online memorial and sign his guest book at hodgefuneralhome.com.