John T. Rheinschmidt Sr., 92, passed away Oct. 31, 2011, at Ivy Court in Coeur d'Alene. 

John was born in Sandpoint on April 24, 1919, to Theodore and Clara (Demers) Rheinschmidt. After his schooling in Sandpoint, he went to work for the Civilian Conservation Corps fighting the blister rust outbreak in the National Forests.

John married Evelyn Diedrick on July 15, 1940. He then entered the U.S. Navy and went through boot camp at Farragut Naval Training Center in Bayview and then served in the South Pacific during World War II. After his honorable discharge, he lived in Spokane and worked for Kaiser Aluminum Trentwood until his retirement in 1982.

In 1965, John and Evelyn moved to the Fort Grounds in Coeur d'Alene where they became good friends with many of the neighbors and they also enjoyed living near the city park and beach.

John enjoyed baseball and in his early adulthood played for the Sandpoint City Team with his brothers. He loved fly fishing in the creeks around the Sandpoint area. He and Evelyn enjoyed many years of camping and traveling. He also enjoyed gardening and had beautiful geraniums and flower beds at his home in the Fort Grounds.

John is survived by his son, John "Ted" and wife Joellen Rheinschmidt of Post Falls; grandson Curtis and wife Beth Rheinschmidt of Spokane Valley; granddaughter Mary Rheinschmidt of Spokane; sister Corrienne (Corky) Beck of Spokane Valley; brother Robert Rheinschmidt of Missoula, Mont.; and many nieces and nephews.

John is preceded in death by his parents; wife Evelyn; son William; granddaughter Becky Rheinschmidt; and siblings Blanche, Earl, Mabel, Howard, Eileen, Bernadine and Geraldine.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of North Idaho or a charity of choice.

The memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, at English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d'Alene. Burial will be at the Pinecrest Cemetery in Sandpoint.

The family would like to thank the staff at Fairwinds and Ivy Court for their care and compassion.

Visit John's online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.