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Mark James Schuon, 60

Mark James Schuon, age 60, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, passed from pancreatic cancer on Oct. 27, 2018. Mark was born on Feb. 28, 1958, in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Mark is now safely with his Lord; his Mom, Jeanette Schuon and his sisters, Chris Schratz and Sharon Schuon.

Mark is survived by his children, Joshua Schuon and Wendi Coleman; granddaughters, Amy, Macy, Phoebe and Ricki; and grandsons, Hunter and Ryan. He is survived by father, George (Echo) Schuon; brothers, Robert (Brenda) and Greg; sisters, Sue Hellem, Sandy (Ralph) Sletager, Karen (Dan) Zarn and Laura (Ronnie) McNeil; and close family friend, Nancy (Ron) Davis.

Second only to his love for family was his passion for being outdoors. Mark grew up in Southern California where he spent long sunny days outside. He climbed trees, played neighborhood softball and ate fruit from the trees in the yard. He could run like the wind and he played hard. He loved his Mom’s homemade food, especially “Mexican Thursday suppers.”

Mark was always good with his hands and was inquisitive about how things worked. He could put together bicycles easily and work on cars when he was young. At age 16 Mark spent the summer logging in the Washington mountains, thanks to the Jack and Judy Foust family.

Mark quickly adjusted to the beauty and aroma of the wild Washington forest. The exhilaration of the mountain tops never left his soul. Mark returned to Washington for many seasons of work and eventually moved with his wife, Stacey Hecket Schuon and their son, Josh to Cashmere, Wash., where he worked for Jack Foust Logging. Their second child Wendi was born in Wenatchee, Wash.

Mark was owner and operator of his own concrete construction firm in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He loved working hard and was known for his kind heart. His family remembers his good barbecue cooking.

Mark was a welder at Schuon Manufacturing for many years. He worked for his brother, Bob and worked with his dad, George; nieces, Teresa Holgate and Connie Price; and nephew, Jason Schuon. In 2017 Mark began the greatest adventure of his life with his son Josh, in Juneau, Alaska. On Josh’s fishing boat, Mark found his days full of wonder, great fishing and the freedom of the open ocean and the Alaskan wilderness. Mark and Josh saw 16-foot seas on Mark’s 60th birthday, and together they raised 20 million salmon. Watching whales surface within yards of the boat while pulling in halibut, salmon, King and Dungeness crab was freedom for his spirit and the best time of his life.

Our family would like to especially thank the staff at North Idaho Schneidmiller Hospice House for their excellent, loving and kind care. We are so grateful. Donations may be sent to the North Idaho Schneidmiller House in Coeur d’Alene.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, at the St. Pius X Catholic Church Columbarium in Coeur d’Alene. Arrangements are provided by Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene. Online registry and condolences may be found at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.