Wherever Patrick Lusk went, smiles would appear.

"He was a bright light who everybody wanted to be around," said James Bonar, plant manager at Ground Force Worldwide in Post Falls where Lusk worked as a welder.

Lusk, 27, of Coeur d'Alene, was found drowned in the Salmon River east of Riggins on Sunday afternoon. He and neighbor Jason Gritten, 35, were reported missing by family on May 17.

Gritten's body was recovered on Wednesday in the river. The two had been in a canoe, which was later found upside down, in the swift river.

Bonar said Lusk and Lusk's wife, Megan, knew each other around 10 years, they'd been together for five and married about two. Lusk worked for Ground Force for four years and previously worked for Western States and in the forestry field.

"He was a great teacher of new hires," Bonar said. "We'd send new people his way. If you would listen, he would give you everything he had. He was one of our top fabricators. He was an employer's dream come true."

Bonar said a funeral for both Lusk and Gritten is being planned for later this summer.

Bonar recalls the time when he was injured while riding a scooter and Patrick and Megan brought him homemade sushi rolls.

"Pat and Megan took the time to make a meal and do something selfless," Bonar said. "Megan jokes that they were like an old couple, and in a way you get the sense that they were both mature for their age."

"He had a sweet soul. Everybody loved Pat and Pat loved everybody. He infected everyone he met with his sense of joy. He had such a magnetic personality. We will carry on doing what we love with 'Patty Cakes' in our hearts."

Lusk also had a certain toughness about him, Bonar said.

"Pat had no patience for whining because there was no quit in his DNA," Bonar said.

Bonar said Lusk enjoyed everything outdoors, including hunting, fishing and camping.

"He did all the outdoor activities that this region offers and then some," Bonar said. "He had a ton of hobbies, but wasn't obsessed with any one thing. At the same time, he could also hang out on the couch with his wife and their dogs and watch Netflix."

Tom Hamilton, who also worked with Lusk at Ground Force, said being around Lusk made you want to be a better person.

"He could point out that you made a wrong decision, then you'd end up laughing together," Hamilton said. "He put people at ease. You couldn't spend time with Pat and not end up in a good mood."

Ground Force has set up a site to support Megan and honor Pat at https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/fnv8.