John Thomas, 73

John Walter Thomas, 73, passed from this earthly home in Laclede, Idaho, to his heavenly home Tuesday, Sept 17, 2024, after a courageous battle with skin cancer. 

John was born in Moscow, Idaho, on June 29, 1951, to Richard and Margaret Thomas. He spent his growing-up years in Pacifica, Calif. He enjoyed living near the ocean, where he often fished with his father. 

Every summer his family came to Sandpoint, Idaho, to visit his grandmother. He caught his first fish at Gamlin Lake in Sagle when he was 3 years old. He was hooked on fishing. He also enjoyed being in the woods, hiking and hunting. 

He went to the University of Idaho, graduating with a degree in Fish and Wildlife. After graduating, he became a Bonner County resident. He purchased 20 acres of land in Vay, near Hoo Doo Creek. There he built a log cabin on his property. In Vay, he was known as “Trapper John,” because he trapped various animals in the winter on a trap line at the Upper Priest Lake. 

When he was 29, John asked Jesus into his heart, and he became a born-again Christian. He loved and served Jesus for the rest of his life. He liked telling people how much Jesus loved them. (John 3:16-17)

In 1981, he married Celia Jansen van Beek. Their first three years of marriage, they lived in a shop/barn on Jewel Lake Road in Sagle. After that, they bought a home in Laclede. He loved living in Laclede where he was near the Pend Oreille River. He had lived in Laclede for the past 40 years.

There he enjoyed fishing for walleye and swimming. He logged for a few years before he purchased a Wood Mizer Sawmill. He began sawing logs into lumber. He fashioned the lumber into rustic furniture, which he sold for many years at Wild West Log Furniture in Coeur d’Alene. He enjoyed music. He played his accordion on his children’s birthdays. He also made them birthday cards where he drew them in cartoon-like characters. Often their pets were in the cards, too. 

He was generous with his time and resources. 

He is survived by his wife, Celia Thomas; daughters Abigail and Rose Thomas; son Luke (Thu) Thomas; sisters Ann and Bonnie Thomas; and three grandchildren. 

His parents, Richard and Margaret Thomas, preceded him in death. 

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit John’s online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book. 

A family celebration of his life will be held in October. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to Billy Graham Evangelistic Association or Andrew Wommack Ministries International, awmi.net in Woodland Park, Colo.