John Edward Spiker, 79, of Rathdrum, passed away July 10, 2011, at Kootenai Medical Center after seven months of complications from a stroke/heart condition he had in November 2010. John was born in Dover, Ohio, to John Spiker Jr. and Faye D. Regula on June 21, 1932.

During high school, John had a desire to be in business for himself and started a carpet sewing business while still in high school. He graduated from Dover High School, Dover, in 1950. By the age of 21, he became one of Dover's top homebuilders. He built homes in Dover for about 20 years. After taking a family vacation out west in 1967, he decided to move the family, and they settled in Otis Orchards, Wash., in November 1969.

Upon arriving in the Spokane area, he worked commercial construction, and in 1971 was hired by Spokane Community College as a Carpentry/Cabinet Instructor. He developed the first college program in the country, where students built real homes from the ground up. He worked at SCC for more than 20 years and retired. Around 1994 he began acquiring land with his son, Dave, for what is now, Golden Spike Estates, the Inland Empire's Top 55+ Active Adult Community of Rathdrum.

John was always very proud of his three sons that followed in his entrepreneur footsteps.

He is survived by his sons, John Wesley Spiker and wife Chris of Missoula, Mont., David Wyatt Spiker and wife Jill of Rathdrum, and James Wayde Spiker and wife Ena of Spirit Lake. John was blessed with five wonderful grandchildren: Jessica, Jared, Ryan, Travis and Jonathan; and six great-grandchildren: Sophia, Ellie, Tristan, Summer Jane, Porter and Paxton. One sister survives John, Faye D. Wallick of Columbus, Ohio; numerous nieces and nephews; and his two best buddies, which he always considered his brothers, Homer Schwab of Dover and Ollie Cavens of Spokane.

A Celebration of Life, Dessert Reception for John will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 16, 2011, at Golden Spike Estates, 8580 W. Yosemite, Rathdrum. John was a lover of dessert, especially fine chocolates, so a variety of desserts will be served at his celebration.

Please do not send flowers. Any memorials in John's name can be made to the Rathdrum Food Bank, 8027 W. Main St., Rathdrum, ID 83858.