John William Powers, 79
Beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, John William Powers, 79, passed away September 25, 2018 at the Schneidmiller Hospice House in Coeur d’ Alene. He was born April 20, 1939 in Kellogg, Idaho, the son of Patrick F. and Georgia M. (Hunt) Powers.
John attended schools in Kingston and Kellogg, graduating from Kellogg High School in 1957. He also briefly attended North Idaho College.
John married Mary Gail Schutt and together they had three children. They later divorced. He married Rebecca “Becky” (Serrette) Babich on January 10, 1981 in Coeur d’ Alene.
John lived in the Silver Valley until 1984, when he moved to Alaska, moving back to Kingston in 1999. The family has resided in Coeur d’ Alene the past five years.
Before starting his own company John worked for several local logging companies and for a time was manager of Northwest Honda in Osburn. He owned and operated Powers Saw and Cycle and Powers Development in Pinehurst, Idaho. In Alaska John worked as a mechanic and equipment operator in various villages around Anchorage and the North Slope, eventually becoming the site manager for SKW Eskimos Inc. in Barrow, Alaska.
John was a past member of the Pinehurst Lions Club, the Prichard Volunteer Fire Department, and the Mountaineers Motorcycle Club. He also served on several boards including the Shoshone County Planning and Zoning, the Shoshone County Weed Control Board and the Staff House Mining and Smelting Museum Board.
John did many things in his life, creating stories and tall tales as he went. In 1997 John was honored as Citizen of the Year by Alaska’s North Slope Borough Police Department. He worked with his brothers Mike and Pat designing and building the gold panning exhibit for the 1974 World’s Expo Fair in Spokane, Washington; he founded (along with some friends) the World Championship Maggot Races in Prichard, Idaho; he performed the Flaming Board Wall of Fire motorcycle stunt (once); to name a few.
John loved and enjoyed hunting, fishing, prospecting, logging competitions, racing motorcycles and snowmobiles, playing his guitar, fly tying and photography. In later years, he most enjoyed gardening and playing with his great-grandchildren.
John is survived by his wife Becky of Coeur d’ Alene and four children John (Mari) Powers of Cataldo, Idaho, Babette Babich of Lake Stevens, Washington, Lynn Covey (Dan) of Coeur d’ Alene, and Samantha (Dan) Babich-Hyde of Seattle, Washington, as well as his son-in-law Randy (Ann) Seaton of Cataldo; ten grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews as well as extended family members Nic and Johnathon Fritch. John was preceded in death by his parents, daughters Brenda Claire Seaton and Janine Gail Powers; and five brothers Mike, Patrick, Robert, James and Larry.
A Celebration of John’s Life will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, October 13, at the Kellogg Funeral Chapel in Kellogg. A reception following the service will be held at the Wallace Elks; everyone is welcome.
The family suggests that memorials may be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 2290 W. Prairie Ave. Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho 83815, the J.W. Powers Memorial Scholarship c/o North Idaho College, or to the Staff House Mining and Smelting Museum, P.O. Box 783, Kellogg, Idaho 83837.
One may sign John’s online guest book at www.shoshonefuneralservice.com
SHOSHONE FUNERAL SERVICES & CREMATORY KELLOGG, IDAHO is entrusted with services.