John S. Pifer, 74
John S. Pifer, 74, passed away in Sandpoint, Idaho, on Thursday, July 14, 2016, from complications due to lung cancer.
John was born on May 20, 1942, to William R. and Arleta S. Pifer. He grew up on Puget Sound in the Boston Harbor community. He graduated from Central Washington University in 1965 and served his country in Vietnam as a first lieutenant in the Army Signal Corps from December 1967 to December 1968.
He worked in the communications and electronics field for the entirety of his career, holding positions with Motorola and Wells Fargo before co-owning and operating two of his own businesses. He moved to Sandpoint in 2000 after almost three decades in the Washington, D.C., area.
His interests and hobbies were many, including beekeeping, woodworking, cooking (a skill much appreciated by his family and friends), and, later in life, crafting ribbon-winning cigar box guitars, many of which are played and cherished by local musicians. A particular passion was racing “C” class outboard hydroplanes as a member of the Stateline Outboard Racing Association and the American Outboard Federation. He was vice president of safety for AOF from 2005 until his death, additionally serving the last four years as the interim executive director of the organization.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 26 years, Kimberley Birkhimer of Sandpoint; his daughter from a first marriage, Kimberly Pifer of Raleigh, N.C.; a brother, William Pifer Jr. of Colville, Wash.; a nephew, Brandon Pifer of Seattle, Wash.; a niece, Stephanie Giustino and family of Puyallup, Wash.; a nephew, Steven Pifer and family of Gig Harbor, Wash.; dear family friend Blaine Benson of Sandpoint; and many others whose lives he touched.
John was an active member of the Alcoholics Anonymous community, with 34 years of recovery at the time of his death.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit John’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.
A potluck to celebrate John’s life will be held at the First Lutheran Church, 526 S. Olive Ave., on Wednesday, July 20, 2016, from 6-8 p.m. Friends and family welcome.