John C. Engwer, 89
John C. Engwer, age 89, Coeur d’Alene, much-loved husband, brother, uncle, and friend, left this world to be with the Lord on March 26, 2013. John was predeceased by his parents Leah and Fred, his sister Helen, and his brothers Kenneth and Donald. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marian, his sister Arlene, and several nieces and nephews.
John was born in 1924 in New Richmond, Wis. He graduated from Shell Lake High School in Shell Lake, Wis., and at 18, enlisted in the Army Air Corps. John was a veteran of World War II, and eventually obtained the rank of First Lieutenant before his honorable discharge in 1947.
John met his wife, Marian Dillon, in Superior, Wis., in 1944, while they were studying to become communication specialists or radio operators – a crucial part of the homeland support of troops deployed during World War II. They married in 1945.
After his discharge from the service in 1947, John was enticed by a magazine advertisement that boasted about a college in Idaho that had a satellite campus at Farragut Park where one could “earn a degree in Forestry, and fish during lunch hour.” It included a picture of a student holding a huge Kamloops fish. That was all it took for John to move to Idaho. However, before he actually started classes in the fall, the satellite campus at Farragut Park closed so John and Marian moved to Moscow where he graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry from the University of Idaho.
After graduating from college, John and Marian moved to Coeur d’Alene where they have resided ever since. John worked as a timber consultant or “timber cruiser” until retiring in 1987. His two major clients were Diamond Match and Idaho Forest Industries.
John was an avid sportsman. The most memorable times of his life were spent fly fishing on the North Fork of the Clearwater River or hiking into one of Idaho’s pristine mountain lakes to catch “Brookies” and Cutthroats. He was an ardent reader, a talented craftsman who created beautiful wood masterpieces, and he made the best sourdough pancakes west of the Rockies.
A rosary for John will be held April 5, 2013, at St. Thomas Catholic Church, 919 E. Indiana Avenue, Coeur d’Alene, at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Thomas, April 6, 2013, at 11 a.m. with a reception and military graveside service to follow at St. Thomas Cemetery. English Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Please sign John’s guest registry and view his online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com
The family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Emeritus Assisted Living and Kootenai Medical Center for the wonderful care that John received during his stay at their facilities.
In lieu of flowers, John’s family asks that you consider a donation to Holy Family School, 3005 W. Kathleen Avenue, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815 or to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 911 W. 5th Avenue, Spokane, WA 99204.