Carnie Jack McArthur

Carnie Jack McArthur, a longtime Coeur d’Alene city firefighter and a former champion Coeur d’Alene High School wrestler, was called to his home in heaven on March 16, 2018, at Schneidmiller Hospice House, freeing him from his 10-year battle with early onset Alzheimer’s.

Carnie was born on April 10, 1951, in Los Angeles, Calif., to Jack and Jeanne (Spellman) McArthur. He grew up in Coeur d’Alene, attending local schools like Roosevelt Elementary, which is now a well-known local bed-and-breakfast establishment.

In 1969, Carnie graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School, where he was honored as a Viking Legend for his success as a wrestler. He went on to wrestle for Washington State University, where he graduated in 1973, with a fine arts major. In 1975, he joined Campus Crusade for Christ and wrestled for its evangelical Athletes in Action Ministry, based in Long Beach, Calif. Carnie spent his life in ministry, sharing Jesus with others.

Carnie married Donna Jean Sovilla on June 11, 1977, at the church where they met, Grace Bible Church, in Long Beach. Carnie and Donna settled in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and were blessed with daughters, Jessie and Callie, and son, Luke. In Coeur d’Alene, Carnie worked for Youth for Christ ministries and then the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department. Later, the family moved to Garwood, Idaho, where they enjoyed owning horses, raising chickens, ducks, barn cats and country dogs. Carnie made their home a perpetual remodeling project until his health declined. He retired as a firefighter in 2008 when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Carnie and Donna celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2017.

Carnie was a man of many talents. There was nothing that interested him that he wouldn’t try and excel at. He was an accomplished athlete and fitness buff. In 1987 and 1989 Carnie was a top scorer at the World Police and Fire Games, both in San Diego, Calif., and Vancouver, British Columbia. He was a fly fisherman, enjoying many hours on the banks of quiet streams in Idaho and Montana. He loved music, teaching himself to play the guitar, harmonica and banjo. Carnie was an accomplished artist and photographer. He even sang and danced in a Lake City Playhouse production of “The Fiddler on the Roof.” He was a carpenter whose favorite renovation projects were always his own homes. Carnie’s greatest joy was his family.

Carnie was preceded in death by his father and a brother, Steven McArthur, who died in Vietnam in 1968, and a sister, Janice Loomer.

Carnie is survived by his mother, Jeanne Loomer of Moscow, Idaho; wife Donna of Coeur d’Alene; children Jessie McArthur of Blanchard, Idaho; Luke McArthur and his wife, Mary, of Stanwood, Wash., and Callie Servey and her husband, Jason, of Coeur d’Alene; siblings Jeff McArthur of Seattle, Wash.; Peggy Miller of Bovill, Idaho; Mike Wimmer of Coeur d’Alene; Chuck Loomer of Hamilton, Victoria, Australia; 10 grandchildren, with one more on the way, plus numerous nieces and nephews.

Carnie’s body was donated to science at the Oregon Health and Science University Research (OHSU), of Portland, Ore. A memorial celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 5, 2018. Weather permitting, services will begin outside at the Fallen Heroes Plaza at Cherry Hill Park, next to Coeur d’Alene Fire Station No. 3, located at 1500 N. 15th St., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814. A reception will follow inside the station. In the event of inclement weather, all services will be held inside the station.

For those who wish to do so, donations can be made in Carnie’s name to the Schneidmiller Hospice House www.honi.org or OHSU Brain Research at www.ohsu.edu/xd/about/foundation/way-to-give/index.cfm.