John Joseph O'Brien, 74

John Joseph O'Brien, 74, resident of Cocolalla, Idaho passed away on Friday, July 13, 2007 in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 22, 2007, at the Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint with Charley Packard officiating, and with full military honors.

John was born on Nov. 17, 1932, in Annapolis, Md., to John and Leona O'Brien. He grew up in Indiana and Los Angeles, Calif., where he graduated high school. Mr. O'Brien served his country in the United States Air Force as a military police officer during the Korean War.

After the service, John began trapping in Washington and Alaska, and was known as "Trapper John." He married Ellen K. Strohmeyer on March 31, 1970, in Mt. Vernon, Wash. John worked on the Alaskan pipeline and later moved to Washington state where he worked in construction. He retired at the age of 68 in Stanwood, Wash.

Ellen passed away in 2005, and John then moved to Cocolalla, Idaho, to enjoy his passion for trapping, fishing, hunting and raising basset hounds.

He is a member of the Labors International Union of North America, Woodinville Basset Hound Bash, and the Washington State Trappers Association. John touched many lives with a heart that was as big as he was. He enjoyed reading Louis Lamour and Patrick McManus books, old Chevys, and he loved seafood, especially good clam chowder.

He is survived by his son, John J. O'Brien of Kodiak, Alaska; two sisters, Leona Evans of Redmond, Wash., and Jan O'Brien of Redmond; a brother, Steve O'Brien of Pensacola, Fla.; and two granddaughters, Andrea and Jasmine.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ellen; and a step-brother, Larry Moore.

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