Jack Edgar Sage, 89

Former Bonners Ferry logger Jack Edgar Sage, 89, left this world Tuesday March 6, 2008, to be reunited with his wife, Julia.

Jack was born March 27, 1918, to Truman and Lena Hollar Sage in Rathdrum. He moved several times with his parents and started first grade in a one-room school at MacArthur, later transferring to Naples Elementary School.

Jack's children and grandchildren were regaled with the usual stories of walking miles through deep snow to get to school and how a cougar followed him and his sister one day.

Jack's father was killed in a railroad accident when Jack was 12. He later moved to the Rathdrum Prairie and lived with his aunt and uncle while finishing high school. They farmed and herded cattle in an area that is now all housing developments.

After high school, Jack worked as a logger and manned lookouts for the U.S. Forest Service. He nearly lost his life in a logging accident when a tree fell on him.

Jack joined the Army in 1942. While stationed in Rhode Island, he met his future wife, the former Julia Pavao. They met at a dance, and neither of them knew how to dance. They were married three months later on Sept. 2, 1943, before Jack was sent overseas.

It was over two years before they saw each other again.

Jack served in the 311th Fighter Squadron with the Army Air Corps. He took part in many campaigns across the South Pacific, including New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and the liberation of the Philippines. Jack received several commendations and ended the war as a staff sergeant.

After the war, Jack and Julia lived for a year in Rhode Island, and then moved back to Jack's beloved Idaho. He spent the rest of his working years in the logging industry in the Naples area.

Jack first worked for Pack River Lumber Co. and then operated Sage & McCalmant Logging with Vern McCalmant, a partnership that lasted more than 20 years.

Jack was also active in community affairs. He helped create an antenna system for the people in Naples who had the first televisions. Jack was also instrumental in installing the Twenty Mile Creek water system for residents of Naples.

He also served as chairman of the local PTA, Boundary County School Board and Library Board.

In 1982 Jack and Julia moved to Coeur d'Alene with their youngest son, Jim. A year later, Jack retired. He spent his retirement doing yard work and carpentry. Jack also enjoyed reading and spending time with family.

In 2007 he moved to the Veterans' Home in Spokane, Wash.

Jack was preceded in death by his wife in 1995, his parents and brothers Earl and Myron.

Survivors include siblings Ruth Roberts of Prosser, Wash., Floyd Sage of Everett, Wash., and Bill Sage of Coeur d'Alene; children Julie of Clarkston, Wash., and John and his wife, Cathy, and James, all of Spokane; grandchildren Corey Jeppesen of Tualatin, Ore., Cynthia Rudd of Tallahassee, Fla., and Joseph and Andrew Sage, both of Spokane; and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, at English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d'Alene followed by a military ceremony at Pinegrove Cemetery in Rathdrum.

Sign Jack's guest registry and view his online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.