Kenneth 'Ken' Thacker, 78
Kenneth “Ken” Howard Thacker (AKA “The Weed Guy”) husband, father, brother, and friend, died May 12, 2025, in his Sagle, Idaho, home.
He left us with a lot of memories: memories of stubbornness and kindness, of sincerity and goofiness, of sensitivity to others while finding humor in his own mistakes, of pragmatism and spontaneity, of a workaholic who loved to have fun, and of a social butterfly who loved to be alone under the trees.
Ken found lasting love with his wife, Bonnie. What started as friendship led to a 32-year romance of a kind rarely found outside fiction. He could always make her laugh with his exaggerated facial expressions and charm her into their sometimes dubious adventures. They shared a love for nature and wild places and appreciated every magical moment together.
Other than Bonnie, there were three people Ken loved fiercely — his children Colin, Kohl, and Ceder. Ken was inordinately proud of the amazing adults they had become, as well as their accomplishments.
Ken was often totally oblivious of his surroundings, making it almost too easy to plan surprise parties. A loss by the San Francisco 49ers could affect him for days. He made friends easily and was at home in many settings, whether it was at the symphony or in the wilderness. Ken was always authentic, with a crooked smile, a twinkle in his eye, and a generous spirit. He was always ready to lend a hand and volunteered untold hours for local organizations such as the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society.
Some of Ken’s oft-repeated phrases were “seize the day,” followed by “go for the gusto” and “pain is gain.” He needed to do something physical every day. Otherwise, he’d pace the floors like an Energizer Bunny without a drum. When he wasn’t turning simple house and yard projects into complicated endeavors that took days instead of hours, it was all about outdoor activities.
Ken liked hiking, hated backpacking, and loved his bicycles. Every year, he challenged himself to ride the same number of miles as his age. Of course, that meant that the older he got, the longer the ride. It was a challenge he relished, completing 76 miles on his last birthday ride. He also enjoyed kayaking and kayak camping, especially if it involved fishing. Not many fish ended up on the dinner table, but he rarely let pesky things like "empty nets" ruin a perfectly good fishing trip.
Ken is survived by his cherished wife and partner in adventure of 32 years, Bonnie Lynn Jakubos; his loving children, Colin Michael Thacker, Ceder Whitney Lynn Dorrington-Thacker, and Kohl Patrick Dorrington-Thacker; his brothers, Dennis Wayne Thacker and Loren Russell Thacker; and his canine sidekick, Pepper. He was preceded in death by his parents, David Perry Thacker Jr. and Nara Colleen Clark, and his brother, David Perry Thacker III (“Buzz”).
There are no words to express how much Ken will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.
A celebration of Ken’s life will be held June 28, 2025, at the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society Arboretum, beginning at 3 p.m. Ken never wanted to leave a party early, so his friends and family are welcome to gather for as long as stories, laughter, and memories flow. In lieu of flowers, consider honoring Ken’s love for nature through a donation to the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society. Donations will benefit the North Idaho Native Plant Arboretum. Please send contributions to KNPS, P.O. Box 1092, Sandpoint, ID 83864.