John Suiter

John Suiter

Joinery, as any craftsman will tell you, is the art of “joining” or bonding two or more pieces of wood. The strongest, most beautiful joints are often the simplest, yet their construction requires experience, skill, and patience along with some very clear and careful thought. A highly skilled Joiner doesn’t just rely on glue or nail for it will be the wit, wisdom and ethics of the Joiner that will keep those objects together long after leaving his shop.

On Tuesday, November 22nd, our beloved John Suiter, left his shop for the last time. He was a Navy man by day, but a joiner by night who built beautiful and functional things. Wood, though, was not his only medium since it was also John’s wit, wisdom and ethics that held people together. Family, friend or coworker - John had a way of holding us all.

A loving husband, father, uncle, grandfather and friend…it was John that brought us all together and cemented us as a family.

John liked to challenge all of us, but always had the patience, empathy, and love to let us fail and try again. He was a generous man who always had time to help us with our golf swing, build something in the shop or shoot some pool. John was there when we needed help and empathetic when we just needed a shoulder.

John had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. He loved being on the water...both at work and at home. And if there was barley in the water, well, he liked that too!

John is survived by his loving wife, Bobbi, daughters Randi (Eric) and Jodi (Mark), sister Margaret, and his beloved grandchildren Tyler, Marisa, Haydyn, Hannah, and Jack. John was preceded in death by parents, Joe and Dawn Suiter and sister, Tish Buckley. He will be missed dearly by his sister-in-law, Gale Snyder (Scott), nephews Adam (Marisa) Snyder and Travis (Eva) Snyder, and cousins Dana, Karen, Lynda and Joe.

We would like to thank John’s steadfast friends at the Acoustic Research Detachment in Bayview for always being there, Hospice House of North Idaho for making John’s last days as comfortable as possible and the numerous doctors and nurses from Coeur d’Alene to Seattle who helped him make the most of these past five years.

In lieu of flowers or funeral, John encourages frequent visits and contributions to the golf courses, marinas, and cafes of Northern Idaho.