James Hintz Jr., 55
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 12 years, 4 months AGO
James Arthur Hintz Jr., known as JJ, Jim, Jim Jr., and as a youth, Jamie was called home on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. He was born on May 13, 1957, in Garden Grove, Calif., the son of Jim Hintz Sr. who now resides in Cape Coral, Fla., and Virginia Pederson of Hayden Lake. The Hintz family moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1965, and in 1973 JJ graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School.
JJ was a very gifted carpenter and lived in several locations around the country, mostly in the Western United States, during the past three-and-a-half decades working on various jobs of all shapes and sizes, from tract housing in Las Vegas, Nev., and Arizona, to high-rise skyscrapers in Seattle, to custom craftsman remodeling here in Coeur d’Alene. Most-recently, JJ worked as the caretaker for his mother, managing the buildings and the grounds at the Hayden Lake Beach Resort.
JJ was married twice — first, the woman he considered to be the love of his life, Atsuko Hiyama of Las Vegas, from 1976 to 1985. His second bride was Debbie Clark of Coeur d’Alene. JJ had no children.
In addition to carpentry, JJ had several other hobbies and talents. As a young man, he was considered to be among the best water skiers on Hayden Lake. He loved to tell stories of the countless adventures that he shared with his siblings, cousins and friends growing up on Hayden. JJ also loved to watch sports on TV, especially NASCAR races, Oakland Raiders football, Gonzaga basketball and Los Angeles Angels baseball. He never missed a race or a game.
JJ is preceded in death by his brother, Jon, who passed away in 1988. He is survived by his parents, Jim Sr. and Virginia; his sisters, Carol, Terri, Joni and Jillian; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.
JJ will be placed to rest alongside his brother at a graveside memorial service at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31, 2012, at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens with Yates Funeral Home, Hayden, in care of the arrangements. There will be a reception to follow at Kathleen’s Corner Apartment Complex off Atlas. You may visit JJ’s memorial and sign his online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.