James 'Jim' Thomas Neveau, 85

James “Jim” Thomas Neveau, 85, passed away on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, at his home in Sandpoint, Idaho one day after his 85th birthday.

Memorial services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 23, 2018, in Coffelt’s Funeral Chapel with Pastor Barry Johnson from the New Song Bible Church officiating. Inurnment will take place in Pinecrest Memorial Park.

Jim was born in Duluth, Minnesota, on June 11m 1933 to Oscar and Mary Ann Neveau of International Falls, Minnesota.

The family moved to St. Helen’s, Oregon, when Jim was 8 years old, where his father served as the chief of police.

Jim was a great athlete and played many sports. He graduated from St. Helen’s High School, lettering in multiple sports and joined the Navy as a Frogman. Jim served in the Korean War and was honorably discharged.

Upon leaving the Navy, he began his career at the age of 21 in a sawmill pulling green chain. By the age of 46, having traveled the world setting up sawmills, he became a sawmill owner in New Mexico.

Jim moved to Sandpoint in 1976, where he retired upon selling his sawmill in New Mexico.

Working on and showing classic cars was his lifelong hobby. Other interests include bodybuilding, motorcycles, hunting, fishing, golf and the great outdoors. He was a card shark who loved to have fun. Jim loved his cats Jazzie and Little Bit, and used up all of his nine lives in various motorcycle accidents, multiple battles with cancer and other near misses.

Jim is survived by his wife Pearl (nee Gleason), and his children Mike (Roxanne), Harold, Mary June Summers (Brent) and their daughters Mariah and Bridgette, Robert Ray and his daughterShelby, Jimmy (deceased), Lois Goe and her children Einar, Dagmar and Knut and stepsons Rick Hart, Steve Hart, Bob Anderson (deceased) and stepdaughter Cari Anderson (deceased). Jim had several great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren and many dear friends.

Many remember Jim as a great teacher of life lessons. He taught many the value of sticking up for themselves and taking care of themselves. A close friend of Jim’s summed up his life thusly, “He was always the cool Dad, the cars, the looks, and the swagger, and family was his pride and joy.”

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

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