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James Robert Pokorny, 89

James “Jim” Robert Pokorny went to be with our loving Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He passed away peacefully at home with family at his side on Aug. 9, 2019, in Rathdrum, Idaho. He was born June 22, 1930, in New York City, to Joseph and Jessie Pokorny. After he served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War, he returned to marry his childhood sweetheart, Mildred Taylor. They had two daughters while they lived in New York and one son after they moved to California.

Jim and Millie created a life of fun and adventure for their three children. Fishing, camping and backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and surrounding national parks were the activities of every summer. Smudging in the orange groves when the winter temperatures dipped too low, batting practice using rotten oranges as baseballs and spending time with family and friends in LaVerne, Calif., were some of his favorite activities.

In the late 1970s, Jim and Millie moved to North Idaho, where they became owners of North Idaho Post and Pole. Jim made many friends while he traveled all over the intermountain Northwest and Canada in search of logs for their business. He knew all the back roads and small, family mills in the area.

After Millie became ill, Jim lovingly nursed her through her final illnesses. She passed away in 1998.

Jim met Lois Willis at a family gathering. After an amazing two-year courtship, they were married on July 1, 2005. Jim and Lois had 14 wonderful years filled with travel and time spent with family and friends.

Preceding him in death was his daughter, Laura Pokorny, who passed away in June of this year (2019). He is survived by his wife, Lois, and his daughter, Dove, and her husband, Rob Carlin of Kalispell, Mont. and his son, Chris and wife, Jennifer Pokorny of Rathdrum; his wife’s children, Cheri (Randy) Backman of Athol, Rick (Lydia) Willis of Riverside, Calif., Ron Willis of Dayton, Ohio, Tina (Dale) Coler of Coeur d’Alene and Jason Willis of San Francisco. Jim (a.k.a. Gramps) was loved by his children and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jim will always be remembered for his kindness, his quiet sense of humor and his love for his family.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Kindred Hospice of Coeur d’Alene. A special thanks to his nurse, Amy Garwood.

A viewing will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, at the Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel. The graveside service will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, at Riverview Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene. Please leave condolences with Jim’s online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.