Thomas Howard Buck, 78
Thomas Howard Buck, 78, passed away March 7, 2017.
Tom was born March 19, 1939, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Melzer and Coena (Kuhn) Buck; he was the youngest of six children. He moved to Sandpoint, Idaho with his family in 1942.
In his younger years, Tom worked as a shoeshine boy, box boy and delivered papers. On June 5, 1959, he married Maida Jane Millard at the Hitching Post in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
He worked at The Pack River Lumber Mill until he was drafted by the United States Army in 1960. He served from 1960-1963 in Fort Hood, Texas, in the 3rd Armored Division.
In 1963, he returned to Dover, Idaho, and the Pack River Mill until he decided to “make millions” by becoming a logger. In his illustrious career as a logger/truck driver, he worked for Ivan T. Buck, Sage & McCalmant, Lewis Kulczyk, Shorty Blood, Wes Olson, Norman Lippert, Everhart Logging and Charlie Kramer Construction.
He owned his own logging truck and later a dump truck, but even a “company” truck was not off limits to his love of lights and more lights, across his bumpers, in the rims and up the stacks. An avid fan of his jake brake, he pushed the limits of law enforcement many times.
He taught his children and grandchildren that almost anything can be fixed with duct tape, WD-40, a can of ether and a bit of jury-rigging. He could wheel and deal someone down from a dollar to a nickel.
He loved Ford pickups, Old Spice, the Tam O’ Shanter, a cold beer, an off-color joke and a “shake a day” with his partner in crime, Larry O’Donnell.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Maida; their daughter, Alana (Dewayne) Temple; son, Daniel (Jamie) Buck; grandchildren, Brandon Buck, Michael ( April) Buck, Taylor (Sierra) Temple, Emma Temple, Kami (Beau) Cowley and his best all-time right-hand man Austin (Donna) Kramer; sister, Eunice ( Jack) Brown; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother and father; daughter, Marcie Lee Buck; sister, Beverly (Leon) Anderson; and brothers, Clyde, Roland and Gerald Buck.
A memorial service will be held this summer. Please honor Tom with a donation to Celebrate Life, P.O. Box 144, Ponderay, Idaho, 83852.
Family and friends are invited to sign Tom’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.
Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.