Obituary: Huber, John Jr.
Age 78
John was born in Kellogg, ID, on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1934, the son of John J. Huber, Sr. and Margaret S. Winker.
He grew up on the family dairy farm in Cataldo, ID, and attended the Canyon Grade School.
4-H was a passion for the whole family.
His mother was a 4-H leader for many years in the Silver Valley and John and his brother spent days grooming and showing animals during Fair time in Coeur d’Alene.
While in high school, John was chosen to attend the 4-H National Congress in Chicago; participated in the choir; played football; and excelled in gymnastics at Kellogg High School, graduating in 1952.
He spent five years at the University of Idaho majoring in Forestry; and while there joined the Army Reserves from 1954 through 1965.
He went through basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO; and also was assigned to Fort Ord, in California for a time.
John belonged to the Junior Chamber of Commerce and was one of those helping light fireworks on the barge that blew up in the late 1950s.
He carried remnants of the sand blast the rest of his life.
An avid bowler for many years, John at one time played on five different leagues!
John’s love of plants and the outdoors, drew him to his own landscaping business; timber cruising throughout the northwest; and then to working with ITD doing research and experimental hillside plantings during the Lookout Pass construction of the late 1960s.
He retired as a Traffic Engineering Technician from ITD after over 25 years of service in 1997.
He was active in the Coeur d’Alene Elks Lodge #1254 and served as Exalted Ruler in 1975 attending its national convention in Dallas, TX; he was a 47 year member of the Elks and a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 486 for 51 years.
It was also in 1975, that he married Karen Grunerud Morrison, and took on a ready-made family of three children, Marcy, Becky and Matthew.
The following year, Keith was born and welcomed into the family.
John was honored in 1992 for having served on the Board of Directors for the Idaho Credit Union Board League from 1980-1991; and for 28 years of service with the Sho-Pan-Hi Federal Credit Union for years on its Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee.
After his retirement from the State, he enjoyed fly fishing, camping, woodworking, and planning each summer’s garden.
He became a Reservist for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and was honored as the 2009 Panhandle Region’s Reservist of the Year.
John served as an Elder of the First Presbyterian Church; participated on several church committees; and sang in the Chancel Choir.
John is survived by his wife, Karen; son, Keith (Katie) Pasco, WA; step-daughters, Marcy (Rick) Clutter, Post Falls, ID and Becky (Mike) Schroeder, Boise, ID; step-son, Matt (Kim), Boise, ID; nine grandchildren, Molly, Max, Tyler, Taige, Taylor, Connor, Maddox, Zander, and Keyan; one great grandaughter, Mailee; and great grandson, Cash; his brother, Bill (Diane) Huber, Cd’A; niece, Vicki (Richard) Ward; nephews, Mike and Randy; and numerous cousins.
He was preceded in death by both parents, and great grandaughter, Jovi.
A memorial service will be held 1:00 p.m.Thursday, February 28, 2013 at the First Presbyterian Church in Coeur d’Alene, with YATES FUNERAL HOME in care of the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s name to the First Presbyterian Church.
Please visit John’s memorial and sign his online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com