Jerry Spade

Jerry Spade, 75, alias Blackie, passed away on Thursday, January 9, 2014 at Life Care Center in Sandpoint, Idaho at 4:40AM. Jerry was born at home in Kootenai, Idaho on January 12, 1938 to Bernice and Pascal Spade. He was preceded in death by his parents Bernice and Pascal Spade, his daughter Debra Ann Spade and his grandparents, Walt and Fern Spade and Myrtle and Bob McElhinny. Jerry served in the U.S. Navy in 1956 and returned to work in Idaho and Montana as a logger, carpenter, horse breaker and trainer and bartender. He married Nancy Heitman in 1959 and had two sons, Terry and Brian Spade and one daughter Debra Ann Spade. He later lived and worked in Alaska building ice roads for the oil fields, radar sites, airport runways and other construction projects for Morris Knutson. He also helped build the tank farm at Valdez, Alaska. Jerry returned to Idaho in the early 1990’s and married his wife Marsha in 2006. Jerry raised foundation quarter horses and auctioneered for many benefits in the area. Jerry played sports in school and belonged to 4-H. He was a member of the Sandpoint Lions Club, the NRA and Safari Club. He always loved hunting and fishing. While in Alaska he harvested one of the top 30 record bison. He also hunted in Africa and loved reminiscing about his hunting and fishing adventures, and hosting trips where his brothers, Tom, Gary and Ray joined him. Jerry enjoyed dancing and loved entertaining family and friends at his summer barbeques. He liked to cook and canned just about everything. He could tell jokes all night long and in his later years enjoyed entertaining the nurses with his jokes. Jerry is survived by his wife, Marsha, two sons Brian and Terry (Vicky) Spade, adopted daughter: Lisa Argenbright; two step children: Duane (Sandy) Miller, Lori (Mike) Emmons, three sisters: Patty (Clint) Harkey, Karen Spade, Donna Parnell; brothers: Tom (Barbara) Spade, Ray (Mary Jane) Spade, Gary (Kim) Spade, Dick (Lillian) Spade. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Justin, Chastity, Crystal, Camry; three step grandchildren and three great grandchildren: Dillon, Vanessa, and Emmett. In addition he is survived by adopted families, Paul Gertsch, John and Becky Wright and family and many loved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. There will be a celebration potluck of Jerry’s life at the VFW Hall on Pine and Division in Sandpoint on Saturday, January 18th at 1:00PM. The family wishes to give a special thanks to Dr. Burgstahler and the staff at Life Care Center, Dr. Jenkins and Dr. Joshi and the staff at Liberty Dialysis for the honest and loving care Jerry and his family received.