John Frederick Semple, 58

John Frederick Semple, 58, passed away, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2005 in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Viewing for friends and family will be held from 5-8 p.m., Monday, Feb. 21, 2005, at the Lakeview Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005 at the Lakeview Funeral Home with Charley Packard officiating. Full military honors will be presented by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2453. Burial will follow at the Semple home on Rapid Lightening Creek.

John was born Nov. 11, 1946 in Redwing, Minn., to Virgil and Margaret Semple. He grew up and attended schools in California. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1968, and served as a tank gunner in Germany during Vietnam.

John worked as a sanitation foreman at VandeKamp Bakery in Los Angeles for 15 years. In 1978, he moved to Sandpoint and began painting houses. He married Barbara Seiber on Nov. 11, 2000, in Sandpoint. John was forced to retire in August 2003 due to health reasons.

John belonged to a 12-step recovery program for alcohol addiction. He enjoyed gardening, cooking, fishing, walking his dogs in the woods and his beard.

He is survived by his loving wife , Barbara Semple of Sandpoint; his parents, Virgil and Margaret Semple of Priest River, Idaho; a brother, Jerry (Bev) Semple of Sandpoint; a sister, Janet (Karl) Dacy of Valencia, Calif.; his grandmother, Melvina Semple of Eaugalle Wis.; and several nieces and one nephew.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Jim Semple, on July 3, 2004.

Memorial donations may be made to Bonner Community Hospice, PO Box 1448, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit John's online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his online guest book.