Lisa Ann Riegel, 62

Lisa Ann Riegel passed away Nov. 13, 2025, from complications of frontotemporal degeneration/corticobasal disease.

Born in Portland, Ore., on June 7, 1963, Lisa’s early years saw multiple moves due to her dad’s career as an agent with the Naval Investigative Service. These formative experiences prepared her exceptionally for a life to come.

Following high school and community college in San Diego, Lisa married and had three children, carving out a simple life as a mom, plus working as a store clerk with Toys “R” Us. Although that marriage did not last, it formed one half of a “yours, mine, and ours” love story that lay just ahead. Subsequently, she relocated to Whidbey Island, Wash., and met Bryan and his children. Thus began a meant-to-be partnership, when two people are in the same place, at the same time, with the same hopes. With grace as their guide, they married, joining two families together Jan. 25, 1992. “Ours” came along in short order.

Lisa lived her purpose as the wife of a Marine and mother of a blended family. Through numerous moves, duty assignments, and long periods with a husband away on overseas deployments, she was the strength that held everyone up and the glue that kept it all together. Always with the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.

In 2010, after the last kid off to college, Lisa and Bryan began their next chapter in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Together, they accomplished an extensive remodel of the home they had purchased a decade earlier, and Lisa started her 10+ year employment as an assistant librarian at the Priest Lake Public Library. With thoughtfulness and dedication, she developed a wonderful weekly pre-school story time that introduced many children to first books, reading, and crafts. Building upon that experience, Lisa poured her heart into the annual summer reading program. She loved working at the library and opening little minds through early childhood literacy.

Selfless in every way, Lisa served as a nursery attendant at Priest Lake Community Church and Vacation Bible School group leader for preschoolers. For a time, as members of the Priest Lake Lions Club, she and her husband put together the Kids Carnival that was held on parade day of the annual Spring Festival in Coolin. She loved her family and grandkids with lake life filled with quilting, huckleberry picking, long walks and bicycle rides, kayaking, and wintertime cross-country skiing. It was a magical time.

In 2018, Lisa began to notice cognitive changes, initially impacting communication in the form of difficulty translating the spoken word into executive functioning, following directions, and simple logic. Her diagnosis evolved as symptoms progressed. But throughout, despite diminishing expressiveness and increasingly severe body movement/coordination challenges, Lisa retained her essence. Strengthened by faith and the help of family and close neighbors, Bryan was blessed to be her caregiver and did so in their home until she passed.

Lisa is survived by her husband, Bryan; their children, Erica, Chris (Kelsey), Alex (Matt), Nick (Jessica), Paul (Kirsten), Hope (Shane), and Bryan (Samantha); six grandchildren: Cole, Emmett, Leo, Max, Ruby, and Violet; her parents, Larry and Judy Skinner; and sisters Kristi and Kerry.

A celebration of Lisa’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Priest River Event Center. 

Charitable donations in her memory may be made to: Priest Lake Public Library, 28769 Hwy. 57, Priest Lake, Idaho 83856; Bonner Community Hospice, www.bonnergeneral.org or 520 N. Third Ave., Sandpoint, Idaho 83864; Brain Support Network, www.brainsupportnetwork.org or POB 7264, Menlo Park, Calif., 94026-7264.

John 14:1-3 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am, you may be also.”

    Riegel