John Dean Sundburg, 90

John Dean Sundburg, 90, of Priest River, Idaho, passed away May 2, 2016.

John was born in West Springfield, Mass., the son of Edward and Anna Sundburg. He moved to Longmeadow, Mass., where he graduated from Classical High School in Springfield, Mass. He joined the Army and served two years and was honorably discharged in July 1946.

He then went to Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., where he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1950.

His first job was for a tire company in Chicopee Falls, Mass., where he met and married his wife Doris. In 1960, John went to work at American Optical where he was the lab manager of 100 field labs throughout the country. In 1981, the lab division was sold and he was given early retirement. He then took a job at Coburn Optical in Colonial Heights, Va. They were bought out by Revlon Cosmetics in 1989 and he then retired to live at Southwick, Mass.

During retirement years he became an avid short story writer and his stories were frequently published in local papers.

His wife Doris died in 2005. He leaves a son, Alan from Arlington, Va.; and a brother, Edward of Rockwood, Maine.

In 2008, he met Marjorie Van Natter who also graduated from Classical High in Massachusetts and had left Southwick to come to Idaho. They became good friends and he loved the mountains, the trees and the slower pace of life here. He was happy he had made the move.

No local services are planned. However memorial contributions may be made in his name to the West Bonner Library District, Priest River branch, 118 Main St., Priest River, ID 83856.

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

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