Nikolas J. Aguirre, 17

Nikolas J. Aguirre, 17, passed away on Thursday, May 8, 2008, as the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident one day shy of his 18th birthday.

A memorial service will be held at 1 pm, Saturday, May 17, 2008, at the Lakeview Funeral Home with Charley Packard officiating. A reception will follow at the Lakeview Funeral Home reception area.

Nik was born on May 9, 1990, in Olympia, Wash., to Robert and Desire Aguirre. As a young boy Nik was a fabulous cook, he liked experimenting with food and loved to serve his mother breakfast in bed. Science intrigued him, and his teachers wanted him to join a group of student ambassadors going to Australia. He snowboarded like a god and played goalie on a soccer team. He picked wildflowers, and grinning, made his mom pick which hand he held them in behind his back.

He lived in San Pedro for over a year with his beloved cousins and aunt, and after he graduated from the Job Corps in February 2007, he came back home to Idaho. He worked at the Samuels Store and at Schweitzer Mountain resort. A north Sandpoint kid growing up, he attended Northside Elementary, the Sandpoint Charter School and Sandpoint High. He had a sharp wit, strong personality and was a true friend.

When Nik was 8 he said, “Christmas was the time for giving,” and he’d save his allowance so he could buy everyone gifts. He loved to swim, fish, snowboard, bike ride and play hackeysack with friends. An incredible bass player, he sometimes practiced a song until his fingers bled to get it right.

He is survived by family and friends from Peru to California to Canada, including his mother, Desire Aguirre of Sandpoint, Idaho; a sister, DaNae Aguirre of Sandpoint; his grandparents, Rhoda and Dell Sanford of Laclede, Idaho, and Fran and Ron Peterson of San Jose, Calif.; an uncle, Rex Mayo of Sandpoint, Idaho; and his cousins, Charlene and Miguel Castellon of San Pedro, Lisa and Mark of San Pedro, Amin and Jason Kees of Utah; Aunt Jenny Lopresto and Aunt Irene (Nana) and cousin George of San Pedro; Aunt Sylvia and cousin Eric of Priest River; Aunt Rae and cousin Scott Sanford of California; best friends Ryan Ford and Josef Schabell of Sandpoint, and his faithful dog, Cholo.

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