Jack Othel Sage, 88
Jack Othel Sage, 88, went home to be with the Lord on Jan. 16, 2015, at Kootenai Health.
Jack was born Aug. 2, 1926, in Shelley, Idaho, to Othel and Olive Sage. Jack was raised on the family farm and loved hunting, fishing and horseback riding. He was the quintessential outdoorsman.
Jack attended Shelley Schools all through high school. He was an accomplished boxer and won four State Golden Gloves Championships. After graduation, he joined the Navy and served as a corpsman at various stateside military hospitals.
Discharged at the end of World War II, Jack returned to Shelley to marry his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Marjie Curnutt, on Sept. 29,1946. They remained devoted to one other for 67 years.
In 1949, Jack hired out as a telegrapher for the Union Pacific Railroad. He often worked at the depot in West Yellowstone during the summers. It was while working there, in 1959, that the Hebgen Lake earthquake happened. Jack was the only line of communication in and out for several days. He was featured in a Life magazine article for his work in the aftermath of the quake. He remained with the Union Pacific for 38 years until he retired as the Division Freight Agent of the Idaho/Montana Line in 1984.
Jack remained a telegrapher at heart his whole life and continued to tap out Morse code while sitting at any table drinking coffee or visiting with family and friends, of which he had many. He loved to laugh and was known as a practical joker in his youth.
During their life together, Jack and Marjie raised three children, traveled extensively and were very active in various Masonic organizations. Jack was a 60 year member of the Masons and Eastern Star. He served as Worthy Grand Patron of Idaho (2000-2001) for the Order of the Eastern Star. He was also a Shriner, Knights Templar, Scottish Rite, Royal Arch, and Royal Cross of Constantine. Jack was a believer and was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church where he was very active until later years when his health declined.
Jack was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather. He could talk to anyone and never knew a stranger, but his family was his life.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Othel and Olive Sage; sister Elenore (Billie) Snell and brother Don Sage; his beloved daughter Christine Jensen, and his cherished wife Marjie Sage.
Jack is survived by his son, Kurt (Elaine) Sage of Nampa, and daughter Tara (TJ) Berge of Austin, Texas; granddaughters Angie Wigton of Post Falls, Alisa Jensen and Amanda Purvis of Hayden, Korie Sage of Boise, Heather Pataky of Seattle, and Courtney Berge of Coeur d'Alene; grandsons Troy Sage of Idaho Falls, Dustin Toothaker of Cedaredge, Colo., and Timothy Berge of Bloomington, Ind.; eight great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and many nephews and nieces.
The funeral service, including Masonic and OES rites and Military honors, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, at Community Methodist Church in Coeur d'Alene. A viewing will be held at the church one hour prior to the service. The graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. at Pinecrest Cemetery in Sandpoint.
Yates Funeral Homes has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Jack's memorial and sign his online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.