Lyle 'Juni' Streeter, 86

Lyle "Juni" Streeter, 86, passed away March 11, 2015, at the Hospice House of North Idaho due to complications of Alzheimer's disease.

Lyle was born Feb. 20, 1929, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, to Lyle Streeter and Martha Shaffer Streeter, the fifth of seven children.

Juni was a Golden Gloves boxer as a young man; a fact of which he liked to remind healthcare workers of when being obstinate! He served his country by joining the Navy and was involved in the Inchon Invasion and the evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Nanking, China.

Juni married Celia Stucker and they had two children, Drew and Rhonda, whom he was very proud of. They later divorced. Juni loved his sports and was a high school referee for many years. He also played and coached men's slow pitch softball into his 60s. He was a very active man and we all had difficulty keeping up with him.

Juni worked for Atlas Tie Company (which became Idaho Forest Industries) for 32 years. In 1974 he married Nola Loe in Coeur d'Alene. They had a daughter, Monica. Life wasn't always easy starting a new family in mid-life, but then nothing worth having seldom is. Life was never boring with Juni around. He was the dad in the neighborhood who was always outside playing with the kids. Probably because he was always such a kid at heart. He was also a favorite uncle to many.

Juni sometimes tried to hide it, but he was a very sensitive, caring human being and loved his family very much and there will forever be a hole in our lives with his loss. He had a great sense of humor and was bigger than life. He touched many lives and made the world a better place just by being in it.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lyle and Martha; as well as his brothers: Pork, Cliff and Bob.

Juni is survived by his wife, Nola, who will miss him every day of her life; daughters Rhonda (Paul) Williams of Coeur d'Alene and Monica Streeter of Post Falls, both of whom helped to take care of their dad giving him the gift of their love and time who are so precious and appreciated; and by his son Drew Streeter of Arizona - Juni was so proud of the man he became. He is also survived by his five grandchildren: Rachel Schell, Ricki Pritchett, Christian Warner (who was Papa's sidekick, helper and buddy), Scotty Hoffer (who gave his Papa the much needed gift of laughter with his wonderful sense of humor) and Caitie Streeter (with her big heart who helped care for him in the last months of his life) who helped us keep Papa home, something we are all proud of accomplishing. Juni is also survived by three great-grandchildren: Sydney and Mavric Larson, and Ella Pritchett; his brother Ike of Colorado, and sisters Betty Rhoads and Shirley Brockhoff; sister-in-law Donna Spencer; and his cousin Billy Streeter who went out of his way to take Juni on lunch and ice cream outings.

He loved his family so very much.

The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at the Coeur d'Alene VA who took such great care of Juni and the wonderful ladies of the Senior Care Program at the McGrane Center who helped make his life a whole lot brighter. Great appreciation to the staff at Hospice Center who gave us the gift of taking care of Juni and us at the end of his journey. What a gift. Our Lori "trio" of nurse, aide and social worker from Hospice who helped us in his final weeks at home. You do such a special job and we are so grateful.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

English Funeral Chapel is handling final arrangements. Please visit Juni's online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.