Christopher Allen DeLuca, 45

Christopher Allen DeLuca, 45, went home to our Lord today, July 4, 2013. After a five-year battle with leukemia, he beat the cancer with the help of a bone marrow transplant from his sister. Unfortunately he succumbed to the consequences of the fight.

Chris was a loving, happy man. He loved the woods, the lakes, the freedom of North Idaho…mostly, he loved his wife, Tamara and baby daughter, Isabella. They were the sparkle in his eyes.

Chris traveled many journeys through his life, he was an auto body repairman for exotic Italian cars, he was a baker, he was security for a prestigious equine ranch in southern California, and he was a finish carpenter. He was a hunter and fisherman…always had a love of nature, dreaming as a young boy of becoming a Forest ranger. Chris new all the back roads of Kootenai County and could be found traveling them in search of wildlife just to admire them. He could spot an animal when everyone else saw just trees!

Chris never met a stranger, never passed up a chance to help a person in need. From a very young boy Christopher knew Jesus and did his best to be a good soldier of the Lord. He was a good man, today he is in the very presence of Jesus and all the love and joy that brings. He had a smile and look of happy surprise on his face as he left us. When you look at the woods, have a thought of Christopher.

He is survived by his wife, Tamara; 2 1/2 year old daughter, Isabella; stepson Nicolaus Brown; mother Nancy Henne; brothers, Tony and Michael DeLuca; sister Tracey Lopez; aunt and uncle, Carolyn and Al Phares of San Diego, Calif.; uncle and aunt, Robert and Patricia DeLuca of Boston, Mass.; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; and uncountable numbers of friends and persons he knew and touched. He will be sorely missed…but forever rejoicing in Heaven!

A celebration of Christopher’s life will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, July 21, 2013, at Athol Baptist Church, 29450 U.S. 95, Athol.