Isaac A. 'Ike' Lucas, 94

Isaac A. “Ike” Lucas left on his next journey with our Lord on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2012. He was born on March 5, 1918, to Isaac Newton Lucas and Lillie Ett (Barcklay) Lucas in Ione, Wash., on his grandparent’s homestead.

The oldest of five children, he moved with the family to Rainer, Ore., where he attended the Stayman School. The family came to Kootenai County in 1931 where he attended Cedar Creek and Post Falls schools.

As a young man during the Great Depression, Ike was always able to find work in a variety of fields. He worked in logging, the Forest Service, construction, truck driving and as a self-employed roofer. Later he worked at Kaiser Aluminum and he retired in 1980 after working many years at the Potlatch Mill in Coeur d’Alene.

Ike joined the United States Army on March 5, 1941. Although he proudly wore the Medal of Rifle Expert, he chose to serve in the Medical Corps as a medic, cook and a chaplain during World War II. He also wore numerous other medals for his service in Europe, the Pacific, Philippines and Asiatic Pacific. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant on Dec. 21, 1945, with the Good Conduct and the American Defense Theater Service medals. Ike was present with the U.S. Army during the liberation of the Dokow Concentration Camp in Germany and had just arrived in the Philippines when the war ended in the Pacific. Like so many of his generation, he did not consider himself a hero. Although he was proud of his service, he rarely spoke of it.

In 1942 he married Edna (Phay) Lucas of Coeur d’Alene who passed away in 1972. They were the parents of three daughters. In 1976 he married Harriet (Frappier) Ehrmantraut and became a loving stepfather to her five sons.

Ike was a quiet and gentle man who loved the outdoors and spent many hours hunting, fishing, camping and especially rock hunting. He was an ordained Deacon in the Community of Christ Church and a member of the American Legion.

Some of his most endearing qualities were his quick-wit, easy smile and sense of humor. Never one to dominate a conversation, he would often interject a well-timed comment that left his family laughing and/or moved by his wisdom. He kept his sense of humor to the end.

Most of all he loved home and family. He is survived by his wife, Harriet, at the family home and his daughters, Vergene Mumper and Gayle Erickson of Coeur d’Alene, and Claire (Gary) McDonald of Blue Springs, Mo.; stepsons, Harlin (Gerre) Ehrmantraut of Otis Orchards, Wash., and Roger (Carol) Ehrmantraut of Lexinton, Ore.; brother Donald Lucas of Hoopa, Calif.; and many adoring grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Edna; stepsons, Wesley, James and Terry Ehrmantraut; brother O.C. Newton Lucas; sisters, Elsie Ware and Evelyn “Opal” Hartford; and grandson Rick Mumper.

The family would like to thank Hospice of North Idaho for their loving care.

Visitation will be held from noon-6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, at English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d’Alene. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, at English Funeral Chapel with burial to follow at Riverview Cemetery, Coeur d’Alene. You can visit Ike’s online memorial at englishfuneralchapel.com.