Jolene Diane ‘Jody’ Grimm, 73

Jolene Diane “Jody” Grimm, 73, from East Hope, Idaho, passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2020 at Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Jody was born to a military family, Lt. Col. Joseph and Maxine Dehner on February 5, 1947 in Los Angeles, California. Jody traveled extensively in Europe and the United States. She graduated high school in Folsom, California.

Jody had a 40-year career as a flight attendant, mostly on the East Coast, living in Sussex N.J. In 2006, while working for United Airlines, she was transferred to Denver where she met and married the love of her life, Thomas Grimm. They married on May 10, 2008, in Dublin, Ohio, near her brother and Tom’s children. In 2011, after undergoing a bone marrow transplant for cancer they decided to retire near a friend in Hope, Idaho, where Tom built their forever home.

Jody made everyone feel like they were her best friend, always optimistic no matter what was going on with her health. Everyone who met Jody had to love her and she made them feel loved. Sending cards with personal notes to everyone she met.

She was baptized at the First Christian Church in June 2013 where she was born again and declared her love for Jesus. One of her favorite verses was 2 Corinthians 12:9: “In our weakness God can make us strong.”

The following poem was special to Jody and Tom because it spoke of their eternal love for each other metaphorically.

Back to the Old Schoolhouse

Do you recall dear, those days of long ago, those happy days that knew but joy and pleasure? T’was there in yonder schoolhouse we learned of love’s sweet dream we shared together.

Do you remember too, that old oak tree, whose leafy boughs gave shelter from the sun? T’was there we carved our hearts so faithfully and vowed they’d ever beat as one.

Yes dear, we’re back once more to childhood scenes, and years can never dim those youthful dreams; in memory they seem ever near, for we’re back to the old schoolhouse dear. Anonymous

She is survived by her beloved husband; brother Kurt (Shawn) Dehner of Glendale, AZ; four step-children; eight grandchildren; cousins Dana Rosenbaum of Surprise, AZ and Debbie Rice of Los Gatos, CA; several nieces and nephews; and her beloved dogs Murphy and Millie.

Memorial donations may be made to Community Cancer Services, 1205 Hwy 2 unit 101, Sandpoint, ID 83864; or The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, PO Box 98018, Washington, DC 20090-8018 (no flowers, please). A celebration will be announced.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Jody’s online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her guest book.