Duke's Claybusters

On Saturday, July 31, friends and family gathered at the Bonners Ferry Gun Club to remember and celebrate the life of Lonny Jelinek.

Many stories were shared, some not very PG, but that was Lonny - a man who really lived. We really miss him.

One of Lonny's beloved Duke's Claybusters, Melanie Campbell, stood before the more than 200 guests and shared her memories about her coach and mentor:

“For the past nine years, I have been helped, taught, mentored and loved by Lonny," she said.

“I started in the sport of trapshooting before there was a youth team. I remember one summer my parents took me to the range to practice for the upcoming waterfowl season. We get there and Lonny comes over and says, “I want you to come out on Saturday.

“My first thought was cool, extra practice for next week. Then I hear Lonny say, 'I started a youth team and I want you to be a part of it.'

“Me? I asked myself. Lonny wants me. Before I could answer, my parents said, 'We’ll be here.'

“Lonny saw potential in a little girl who couldn’t finish a box of shells. Lonny never gave up on me. In fact, he refused to. If it weren’t for Lonny, I wouldn’t be here now. I wouldn’t have [out-shot most of you.]

“That was five years ago. Now I am one of the oldest members of the Bonners Ferry High School Dukes Claybusters trapshooting team.

“My fondest memories of Lonny are the yearly trips to the stores and fair to sell our raffle tickets, taking his team to competitions, seeing the pride and joy of our accomplishments in competing, how grateful he was of getting compliments [from] other trapshooters of how respectful and helpful his team was and yelling at any telemarketer that called his phone.

“Lonny didn’t have the words to describe how proud he was of the team, and we didn’t need words. The fact that he took time out of every Saturday all year long was enough.

“Lonny played a big role in the lives of his Claybusters. He coached, mentored, loved, believed, gave life lessons, helped us grow and took time out of his day to be with us.

“I don’t have enough words to say how grateful I am to have had Lonny in my life. I am blessed to have had such an amazing man, mentor and trap shooter in my life. Lonny’s two favorite sayings were 'miss the last bird and I will kick you in the butt,' and 'shoot safe and keep your powder dry.'

“His shooting legacy will live on in all of us.”

Thank you to the Claybusters, all the families and our local community who selflessly provided help to make Lonny's memorial so special.

The targets aren't hard to hit … they're just easily missed. - Coach Ron Campbell