Captain Jon Douglas Ruffatto, 65

Captain Jon Douglas Ruffatto, 65, passed away peacefully in his home on April 9, 2016.

Jon was born Nov. 15, 1950, In Oakland, Calif. His parents were Peter and Jeanne Ruffatto. Jon attended St. Mary's High School, and after graduation attended college at Berkley. He then attended Kingspoint Maritime Academy in New York for four years and graduated at the top of his class in 1973.

In September 1974, Jon married Sue Schaeffer and they had two sons. They moved to Sandpoint in 1983 and were later divorced. For a short while Jon owned a computer store at the Bonner Mall in Ponderay; but basically he made his living in the container shipping industry. He worked for APL Maritime, as a ship's captain, for many years and retired from there in January 2016. His last job was master (captain) of the APL Coral.

Jon married Joyce Marcum in Sandpoint, on Oct. 5, 1995. The two lived quietly in their Sandpoint rural home for 21 years. Jon loved his family, and was a proud grandfather. He was a kind, generous man and had many friends. He liked gardening, music, and was an avid reader.

He enjoyed spending time at his second home in Hot Springs, Mont., and spending time with his friends at the Hide Away Pub at the Bonner Mall. Jon was a proud, long-standing, union member of the International Order of Masters, Mates and Pilots and, in December 2015 he became a member of The Council of American Master Mariners, Inc.

Jon was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Jeanne Ruffatto.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce Ruffatto of Sandpoint; his three sons, Dave Brandi) Ruffatto of Sandpoint, Dan Ruffatto of Des Moines, Wash., and Scott Gammon of Sandpoint; his three granddaughters, Veda Ruffatto of Sandpoint, Hayley Gammon of Sandpoint, and Lily Gammon of Sandpoint; and two cousins, Jeanne Kiloh of Fullerton, Calif., and Walter Kreutzen of Irvine, Calif. We all loved this man and he will be missed more than he could have ever known.

Funeral services will be held in the Coffelt's Funeral Chapel on Pine Street at 11 a.m. Friday, April 15; Pastor Fred Page will preside. Following the service there will be a burial service at the Pack River Cemetery on Colburn Culver Road.

Family and friends are invited to sign Jon's online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.