Jack Lewis, 61
Bonner County lost a legend. To say that Jack “Jacker” Lewis was one of a kind would be a severe understatement!
Jack was born Sept. 25, 1961, in Greeley, Colo., to David and Mardette Lewis. He was the third of four children. He was married to Sandy Gross “Lewis”, and fathered one child, Tyson Lewis (author).
Both parents preceded him in death, David Lewis in May of 2012, and Mardette Lewis in December of 2021. He is survived by his two sisters and one brother, Kim Lewis Cox (Donald), Dan Lewis (Ellen), and Sandy Lewis Seagle (Brad); and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
He graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1980 and was very popular among his peers.
He was my father and my best friend. He would not want anyone to fuss over him, but he was kind of a big deal to a lot of us! He had a big heart and it shined in everything he did. He was the first person to come pull you out of the ditch, or fix your house, all the while giving you a hard time and making you laugh even if you wanted to slap him.
He was a natural athlete who started skiing Schweitzer in grade school “Mogul Bashing” and was even in a Daily Bee ad as a local ski shop model as a teenager. He later excelled at track and motocross. He had a big effect on this community and there is evidence all over Bonner County in the form of homes he worked on, rigs he fixed, secret spots he showed and hearts he touched.
His adventures took him all over the U.S. and he had friends in all 50 states from building cell towers or going on road trips just to see how far whatever he was driving/riding could get him. He was known as a “spirited” driver and rider, if you have ever been on a motorcycle with him, then you know what I mean. He drove/rode every vehicle he had like he had stolen it while his hair was on fire! The man possessed raw talent behind the wheel and handlebars, I will always remember drag racing with him in a 1964 GTO with my uncle Dan and him on his newly acquired Yamaha YZ465 on its maiden ride, he beat us while doing a wheelie through fifth gear!
Another incredible quality he possessed was that he was a cat with nine lives. He is the only person I have ever known to get hit by a train, roll a car before old enough to legally drive, have an 18mm socket dropped on him from 300 feet, be started on fire under a burning car, sitting down on chip sealed Schweitzer Road when the throttle got stuck wide open on a dirt bike while riding a wheelie, have a battery explode in his face and several other near-death experiences that his friends and relatives can attest to.
His spirit was untamed and his body could not keep up toward the end. While his body is no longer suffering, his spirit is free and visiting all of us who are still here, and those on the other side.
He joins his angelic mother, Mardette Lewis, whom we lost this time last year, and his father, David Lewis, who we lost in 2012, plus more of his childhood friends that preceded him in death.
He leaves behind his only child, Tyson Jack Lewis, and many friends who he considered family.
We will celebrate his crossing over at the end of June when the area comes back to life outside. He abhorred being indoors for too long and it makes sense that we would celebrate his life outside. Cherish your memories and experiences with him, listen to music he turned you on to, remember the cool places he showed you, the arrowheads he found magically everywhere, the encyclopedic knowledge of most interesting things he shared with you and, most of all, try to bring joy and humor to as many adverse situations as possible. Remember his grin and laugh anytime you start feeling sad, he wants us all to live life to the fullest and have as much fun as possible because he knew nothing lasts forever!
The celebration of his life will occur near the summer solstice in late June of 2023. Stay tuned to his Facebook posts for details as they develop.
