Rodney Elgin Stark, 75

After a long battle with heart disease, Rodney (Rod) E. Stark passed away peacefully on Aug. 25, 2016, at Hospice House in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He was born May 19, 1941, in Glendale, Ore., to Tom and Florence Stark. He grew up in California with his mother and two brothers. As early as age 12, he washed cars at a car dealership and worked in a bakery to help support his mother while she was becoming a nurse. When he was 16, his mother married Leland (Lee) Gregg. Lee was the father he never had and he was a very important part of his life.

In 1958, he graduated from Stagg High School in Stockton, Calif. He attended college at Stockton Junior College where he studied construction. He fought fires with the Forest Service for many years before serving in the Air Force.

On Jan. 20, 1962, he married Dorothy Ann Katherine Stabler in Stockton. They were married for 54 years. When they first met, Rod asked Dorothy’s sister, Shirley, on a double date with the intention of getting to know Dorothy. He loaned Dorothy his jacket for the evening. Before returning the jacket, Dorothy wrote her phone number on a book of matches and put it in the pocket of Rod’s jacket in hopes Rod would give her a call. Rod called that very evening and they spoke for hours. Within the next year, he proposed to Dorothy. Later that same night, he was called to serve in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

He became a General Contractor in 1969 and built subdivisions, industrial size metal buildings, parking garages, doctor’s offices and numerous business buildings. During his career, he also remodeled many Der Wienerschnitzel restaurants. While in the metal building industry, he won trips for top sales. As a side business, he also owned 100 pay phones in the Stockton area. In October 2004, he and Dorothy left California and moved to Idaho to be closer to their grandchildren.

In his later years, he supported his wife and her store, Treasure Towne, by acting as her handyman; performing repairs, staining and painting furniture. He enjoyed working on these projects and he was proud that he could take old broken down furniture and fix it up, giving it a new purpose.

He enjoyed hunting, gardening, fishing and camping. He was happy to introduce small-time farming to his grandchildren. Most of all, he enjoyed family get-togethers. He always looked forward to good food and games with the family.

He is known for his positive and supporting attitude and his strong work ethic. He loved to chat over a cup of coffee; often times calling his grandsons to meet. He was also known for his joking personality — if he took the time to harass you a bit, you knew he cared.

Rod is survived by his wife, Dorothy Stark of Post Falls, Idaho; daughter and son-in-law, Kimberly and Darrel Ramus of Rathdrum, Idaho; son and daughter-in-law, Gregory and Cynthia Stark of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; grandchildren Kevin, Brian and Kelly Ramus; sister-in-law Shirley Drew; nephew Damon Drew; and brother and sister-in-law, LeRoy and Holly Stark.

He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Roger Stark.

A special thank you to Kinny Moss for his friendship and support to Rod in these last few months.

Memorial services and reception will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, at English Funeral Chapel, 1700 N. Spokane St., Post Falls, Idaho.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to the Hospice House of North Idaho, 2290 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815.

Please view and sign Rodney’s online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.