Former Republican Party Chairman Dies

Wed., Nov. 13, 1996

Memorial service for John Anthony “Jack” Hern Sr., former Spokane County Republican Party chairman, is planned for 1 p.m. today at Plymouth Congregational Church. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Hern, 78, died Friday.

He was born in St. Paul, Minn., and attended the University of Minnesota.

He served as a navigator in the Army Air Force during World War II and worked as a building contractor after the war.

In 1952 Mr. Hern purchased Thompson Lumber Co. in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and built Polaris Stud Mills in Bonners Ferry in 1957 and Regulus Studmill Inc. in St. Maries in 1959 and owned Hern Lumber and Sawmills in Spokane from 1971 to 1985.

He was a delegate to the National Republican Conventions of 1976 and 1980 and served in the Spokane County Republican Party until 1978.

He was a member of the Timber Products Manufacturers Association and was past chairman of the Bonners Ferry Chamber of Commerce.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Caroline; two sons, John Hern Jr. of Coeur d’Alene and Alan Hern of Spokane; a daughter, Katherine Hern of Kirkland, Wash.; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Greyhound Pets Inc., 1900 Millview, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814, or SpokAnimal C.A.R.E.

, DataTimes

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