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James ‘Jim’ W. Sheeks, 72

James “Jim” Woodrow Sheeks, 72, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, went home with his Lord, July 12, 2017, due to a sudden heart attack. Jim was born April 16, 1945, at Ft. Snelling Military Reservation U.S. Army Hospital in St. Paul, Minn., to John M. Sheeks Sgt. 10th Mtn. Division and Alyce V. (Willows) Sheeks.

Jim graduated from Edina High School in Minneapolis in 1963 and earned a B.S. in business administration from Mankato State in 1969. His father taught him to ski not long after he learned to walk and took the family on trips to all ski areas in the West. Skiing and mountains were in his soul. In 1970, he and his brother, Dave, left for the slopes of Jackson Hole and Grand Targhee and became ski school instructors/coaches for the next 20 years. There was an amazing brotherhood of “ski bums” and he loved his life.

In the summers he worked construction, saved his money, bought land, and lived in a teepee for five years while he hand built his own log house for cash in Driggs, Idaho. In 1990, he moved to Grand Junction and bought a successful golf business. Then an amazing thing happened to this bachelor. Jim met Julie in his mother’s kitchen. He proposed by asking her to join the “Fun Tour.” They were married in November 1994 and moved to North Idaho to be closer to her family. Together they traveled, hiked and cross-country skied all over the west and made friends wherever they went. They became snowbirds in 2010, and enlarged their group of friends.

His laugh was contagious and he was a notorious “drop in” guest wherever there was a coffee pot on. He kept his generosity secret, but he helped out a lot of friends, family and strangers. There will be less noise and laughter with his passing. He will be dearly missed.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Alyce; and his brother, Dave Sheeks. He is survived by his wife, Julia; father John M. Sheeks; brother Mark Sheeks; stepson Michael Heiser; stepdaughter Rachel Karns of Coeur d’Alene; grandchildren Emily, Julia, Alex, Ryan and Andrew; two nieces, four nephews and a new great-nephew.

A memorial will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 22, 2017, at the Coeur d’Alene Bible Church, 5350 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene. All are welcome to come and joyfully celebrate the life of this amazing man.

Great thanks go to all the Paramedics, Fire Department, Kootenai Health doctors and staff in the ICU/ED. They were incredible. Our family will never forget the kindness of each and every one of you…

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Jim’s memorial and sign his online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.