Wilson keeps busy in retirement

Serve Wilson is a tough guy to catch up with now that he is retired.

At 65, "just went on Medicare in November," Jon Serve Wilson is not letting any grass grow beneath his feet.

Serve, pronounced Serve-ee, was nearly impossible to nail down for a lunch date after he was the high bidder on the Newspaper in Education auction last month.

We were on for last Friday at the Beach House — that was if the skiing wasn't too good and he decided to make a day of it at Schweitzer. Barbara, his wife of 40 years, was pretty sure we would hook up.

"I had time for 15 runs this morning," he said as we sat down. "The skiing is actually good and there is nobody up there (at Schweitzer)."

Serve has skied all of his life — including 22 years on the ski patrol in McCall and Alaska. Skiing, and just about everything else, about came to a screeching halt on Dec. 28 of last year at Schweitzer when he connected with a stump at the bottom of Crystal as he was cruising into the lodge.

"I was moving pretty quickly when I hit a small stump that sent me into the air," Wilson said. " I was in the air, parallel to the ground, for about 20 feet."

When he landed, he dislocated his left clavical and damaged his rotator cuff. He was off the hill for three weeks and still can't plant his left pole because of his injuries.

"Crashes hurt a little worse when you get older," he said. He credits his helmet for saving his life and thanks his friend and fellow Sandpoint Rotarian, Stan Hatch, for scaring him into wearing the helmet.

If you recognize Wilson's name, it is because he used to be the assistant superintendent of schools here. He was here from 1993-'96 and worked for a new superintendent each year of his tenure.

He ended his career in Kamiah as superintendent and moved back to Sandpoint to retire in 2000. He and Barbara had purchased a house here during his first stay and had rented it out. They had both hoped to return and retire here, surrounded by friends.

Wilson graduated in education from St. John's University in Minnesota. He received a master's degree from the University of Alaska. He started his career teaching junior high math near Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska.

After five years there, he hauled the growing family to McCall, where he would spend 16 years — four years as junior high principal, one year as assistant superintendent and 11 years as superintendent.

It was at that point, he decided to move the family back up to Alaska and became a K-8 principal in Homer. The school district was 25,000 square miles. He finished his career in Kamiah.

He and Barbara are now in Sandpoint to stay, well most of the time.

Serve and Barbara enjoy their time together but laugh at the thought of slowing down because of retirement.

"We are gone about a third of the year," he said. Last year, the Wilsons took a 39-day cruise from Seattle to Rio. They also visited their daughters Carrie, 38, and Kara, 35, and assorted grandchildren.

This year they are even more busy. A trip to Mazatlan is in the near future. It is then off to northern Italy for a 16-day cruise followed immediately by a 12-day cruise from Rome to Ft. Lauderdale.

Serve books cruises, flights, hotel rooms and transportation all online. He also invests and spends a lot of time online reading and staying in touch.

Friendship is very important to Serve and Barbara. They both have collected friends from Alaska to Idaho and often plan their trips around visits.

Serve has been a Rotarian since 1970 and even started a club in 1984 in Homer, Alaska. The club now has more than 60 members.

So whether it is riding up a chairlift at Schweitzer or attending a Rotary meeting, Serve is always attempting to find out about the people around him.

"Educators have to be involved and care about people," he said. "I can?t turn that off because I retired."

A few more Serve facts:

? Tom Bodette, owner of the voice that says they'll leave the lights on for you at Super 8, was a carpenter who lived down the street from Serve in Alaska.

? Singer Jewel's Dad was a student teacher for Serve.

? Serve's real first name isn't Serve, it is Jon. Serve is Mom's maiden name and is German and, no, he has never met another Serve and, yes, most people mispronounce his first name.

? He has logged 3,000 hours as a pilot. "It's safer flying than driving."

? He likes the idea of a byway around Sandpoint down Sand Creek.

? "I'd like to be skiing for 20 more years," he said.

What's your guess for the Super Bowl?

Barb Perusse likes the Chiefs' chances. You remember the Chiefs? Mathematically eliminated from contention in the second week of the season, Chiefs?

She was wearing a Chiefs shirt when I was talking with her.

Most people like the favored Patriots to repeat.

If you are looking for some fun-loving company during the Super Bowl and want to help some deserving students, why not stop by the Elks Club for the Elks scholarship Super Bowl party. Doors open at 11 a.m. All proceeds go to the Elks scholarship fund.

The Sandpoint Lions always seem to come to the rescue.

The civic group already sponsors the Toys for Tots, Easter Egg Hunt, the Fourth of July festivities and helps the needy here.

Recently a newly-arrived Sandpoint resident left a message on the answering machine at the Lions Den.

Cynthia B. had just arrived from Hood River, Ore. and had moved into the third floor of the new apartments south of the Kootenai Cutoff Road with her daughter and granddaughter.

She is partially disabled and has a tough time moving around without her electric wheelchair. She called the Lions to ask for help getting the bottom portion of her wheelchair from the bottom floor storage area to her apartment.

Lions President Gerry Martello asked Lions to come to the rescue. They did.

When Lion Lou Emerson knocked on Cynthia's door he was convinced nobody was home.

"She had to basically crawl to the door," he said. "It was heartbreaking to think that's how she was getting around."

Lions Emerson, Keith Leiber and Charlie Quenzer hauled the very heavy piece of machinery up the stairs and set it up.

"I've never seen anybody so appreciative," Emerson said. "It was the best thing I have been a part of."

David Keyes is publisher of the Bee. His column runs Tuesdays.