Joni Zantow

Joni Christine Baker Zantow, 35, passed away Tuesday, March 18, 2008, in a car accident near Cocolalla.

Viewing for friends and family was held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 21, at Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint. Memorial services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, March 24, at Lakeview Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Tony Nelson of First Christian Church officiating.

Inurnment took place at Pack River Cemetery.

Joni was born Jan. 25, 1973, to Bill and Sue Baker in Bonners Ferry. She attended grade school in Bonners Ferry before moving to Sandpoint, where she attended middle school and graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1991.

Joni married Perry Zantow on Aug. 1, 1992, in Dover; the couple had two beautiful children.

Joni worked at Safeway and Women's Health Clinic, while she earned her degree in medical secretarial studies at North Idaho College.

She was a hard worker, currently holding jobs at Bonner General Hospital, Sandpoint Pediatrics and Kootenai Medical Center.

Joni was a loving mother, who enjoyed interior decorating; needlework, which she learned from her mother-in-law Juanita Zantow; and singing, (she sang the lead in “Cabaret” in the seventh grade). Her favorite color was purple.

Joni is survived by her life partner, Perry, of Sandpoint; children Madison, 7, and Mitchell, 5, stepchildren, Wesley, Benjamin and Kaila, parents Sue Baker of Kootenai and Bill Baker of Bonners Ferry, a sister Mindy Baker and her son, Justin, of Sandpoint; grandmothers Arminda Thompson of Sandpoint and Gertrude Baker of Bonners Ferry; aunts Aggie Moran and her husband, Al, and Linda Baker, all of Bonners Ferry; and Janie Jacobson and her husband, Bill, of Kootenai; uncles Jim Thompson and his wife, Lila, of Bonners Ferry, and Walt Thompson and his wife, Carol, of Dayton, Nev.; extended family member Margie McDowell; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her grandfathers Wyman Thompson and Sanford Baker, and sister Keri Sue Baker.

Memorial donations may be made to Mountain West or Panhandle State banks for Joni's children Madison and Mitchell Zantow.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Visit Joni's memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her online guest book.