Lynn Marie Fitzpatrick, 71

Lynn Fitzpatrick, beloved mother, daughter, big sister and friend, passed away June 8, 2025, from injuries received in a fire at her home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She was 71. Lynn was born March 2, 1954, in Sandpoint to Jerry and Charlene Fitzpatrick.

After graduation from Sandpoint High School, she attended Kinman Business School in Spokane, Wash. Following her graduation from Kinman, she returned to Sandpoint, where she became a dental assistant for Dr. Gerald Madsen. Lynn left her dental assistant job in 1975 to start her family, having two sons, Chris and Paul Jacobson. When the boys started school, Lynn went back to school at NIC to become a registered nurse. She worked for Kootenai Memorial, for an orthopedic surgeon and for a rheumatologist before her employment with the state of Washington as a patient liaison. Lynn continued working until she retired, even through debilitating arthritis and the heartbreaking loss of her oldest son. She also served in the Army Reserves in the late ‘80s while also working as a full-time nurse.

Lynn was always there for any family, friend or friend of a friend for all medical questions. If she didn't know the answer off the top of her head (which she usually did), she would research until she found the answer. She also wrote and published articles on arthritis, which were, of course, very thorough. Lynn was born to go into the medical field. She also excelled in biology and English from an early age.   

She had a wicked and quick sense of humor — you could see it dancing in her eyes before she said it and sometimes, she didn't even have to say it. You could just see it in her face. Second only to her family, she loved her animals and her plants. She had horses as a kid as well as dogs, cats, fish, birds, a lizard, tortoises and even a ferret. Barnie the dog, her last pet, survived the fire.  

Lynn was preceded in death by her beloved son, Chris Jacobson. She is survived by her treasured son, Paul Jacobson, parents Jerry and Charlene Fitzpatrick and siblings George (Judy Gault), Tim and Cherry (Mike) Lane.  

Services will be held at Coffelt Funeral Service on June 28 at 2 p.m., followed by a graveside service at Pack River Cemetery. There will be a reception following at Oden Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to help preserve and maintain the Oden Hall. Donations can be mailed to Oden Hall, Oden Busy Bees, c/o 3465 Sunnyside Road, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Family and friends are invited to sign Lynn’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com. Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.