Brad Lee Bleckwenn, 52

Brad Lee Bleckwenn, 52, passed away on Monday, May 29, 2006, at his home in Careywood, Idaho, after a long courageous battle with muscular dystrophy.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 3, 2006, at Lakeview Funeral Chapel.

Brad was born on Oct. 9, 1953, in Sandpoint, Idaho, the son of Stanley and Ronnie (Oman) Bleckwenn.

He attended Southside Elementary School and graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1971. Brad was a boxer in high school and won the Golden Glove award.

He entered the U.S. Marine Corps and served as a sergeant at Camp Lejune, N.C., until his honorable discharge in 1977.

Brad grew up on the family dairy farm and spent his spare time at Cocolalla Lake with Mike and Mark Geenen, Bruce Ahner and the rest of the gang.

It was there he met his beloved wife, Nova. They were married on April 1, 1976.

He was employed by the U.S. Forest Service for 31 years before retiring in September 2005. He worked as a land surveyor hiking the mountains of Idaho, fought wildfires until 1994 when he became warehouse manager.

He also participated in the Columbia Space Shuttle recovery mission in Texas. He continued to remain active in the sport of boxing following his service in the Marines and in later years by attending fights and watching them on TV.

Brad loved four-wheelers, loved music and dancing, working on the family farm and enjoyed family and friends.

He and wife Nova were past members of the Circle n' Swing club of Sandpoint. Brad recently enjoyed the birth of his first grandchild, Maggie Lee Bleckwenn.

Survivors include his wife, Nova Bleckwenn; daughter, Laya Lee; son, Cody Earl Bleckwenn; granddaughter, Maggie; a maternal aunt, Elna Oman; cousins Jo Ellen Roberts, Paul, Jim and Jeff Englert; nephews Christopher and Brandon Bleckwenn; and an entire community of friends

He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Ronnie Bleckwenn; brother Stanley Bleckwenn Jr.; and a sister-in-law, Christy Bleckwenn.

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