Jesse Samuel Penrod, 78

Jesse Samuel Penrod, 78, of Ponderay, Idaho, passed away Sunday morning, Sept. 25, 2005, at his home after a five-year battle with prostate cancer.

Private family services will be held at a later date.

He was born March 29, 1927, to Jesse B. and Vela (Wade) Penrod, in Sandpoint, Idaho. He attended schools in Sandpoint until enlisting and serving in the U.S. Navy from May 1945 to September 1949 during World War II.

Jesse married Catherine M. Durand on Nov. 4, 1950.

Jesse worked on building the Cabinet Gorge Dam in the 1950s and then worked as a pole inspector for "Ed" Senft Inspection Agency. Jesse later bought him out. He retired in 1989.

He was a member of the Elks Golf Coarse and loved his game of golf until his decline in health. Jesse dedicated the last 30 years of his life caring for his wife at home, after an accident in 1975 left her a paraplegic.

Jesse is survived by his wife of 54 years, Catherine, at home in Ponderay; a son, Doug Penrod of Ponderay; a daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Eric Knudtsen; and granddaughters, Brianna and Cailyn Knudtsen, all of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Memorial contributions can be made to Bonner Community Hospice, P.O. Box 1448, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864.

Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene Chapel, was entrusted with the care of arrangements.

Please visit Jesse's memorial and sign his online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.