John Mason, 89

John David Mason was born Feb. 8, 1934, to Carl Leon and Jasiel (Weyeneth) Mason in Chicago, Ill. 

He graduated from Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Ill., and went to work at G & W Electric Specialty Company. John went on active duty in the U.S. Army in 1953, and after basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, he was stationed in Sendai, Japan. John was very proud of his time in the military and was proud of the rest of his family for being service members. 

In June 1957, John met his first wife, Nancy Koster; they had three children together, Janet, David and Linda. In 1969, the family moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where John was employed at Hecla Mining and Parrott Heating, before starting his own business, Falls Electric. He went on to be an Idaho State Electrical Inspector until retirement, then, not being fond of retirement, went to work for a short time at UL Laboratories inspecting electrical components.  

On Feb. 9, 1985, John married Nita Lutz, gaining daughters Cindy Edington and Anna Richards. John and Nita loved to travel, square dance, spend time at their place on the Cd'A River, and create beautiful homes and yards together and, above all, spend time with family. John loved to “tinker,” taking things apart to see how they worked, model trains inside and outside, puzzles and coin collecting, an early coffee hour with buddies at Super One and his weekly lunch with Bob Hollingsworth at the Lake City Senior Center. 

He was a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church, Coeurly Q’s, Jacks & Jenny's, Masonic Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite and River City Gardeners and the Inland NW Garden Railroad Society.

John was a pivotal figure in the lives he touched. Whether it is through his advice, his dry humor, or the love he gave to all he made an impact on all who knew him. John and his wife, Nita, were always a fixture at their grandkids and great-grandkids' sporting events, cheering on them and their friends. There was never a day where John was not in his signature button-up, with his pens and paper in his shirt pocket, either visiting friends, going to the store, putting together a puzzle or being a devoted husband, visiting Nita at her assisted living facility. 

John’s parents, daughter Janet and son David preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Nita, daughters Linda and wife Karla, Cindy and husband Wade Edington, and Anna and husband Larry Richards. John also leaves behind grandchildren Devon Stilson, Katie and husband Tysen Graves, Jenny and husband Matt Whaley, Jillian Scheer, Emily Scheer and Alex Richards, and great-grandchildren Casey Whaley, Avery Whaley, Roper Graves, Rowdy Graves and Hudson Kyllonen. 

A memorial service will be held at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1700 E. Pennsylvania Ave., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, at 1 p.m. Arrangements are provided by Yates Funeral Home. Online registry and condolences may be found at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com. 

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice.