John Paul Maland, age 81, a resident of St. Maries, Idaho, passed away on Sunday, January 16, 2011, at Kootenai Memorial Hospital, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He was born on January 2, 1930, in Spokane, Washington, to Henry and Gertrude Kellner Maland. He graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane, Washington, in 1947. He attended the University of Idaho at Moscow, and was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. John married Patricia Ann Johnston in Saint Joseph's Catholic Church in Spokane, on December 27, 1950. John's career as a land developer and home builder began in Spokane before he served in the U. S. Army Air Corps and U. S. Air National Guard. He built many homes on Spokane South Hill. In the early 1960's, he co-owned Spokane Flying Service, a Piper Dealership, at Felts Field, where he became an accomplished Charter Pilot. At that time, the Family enjoyed summers at their Kalispell Bay lake cabin that he built at Priest Lake, Idaho. The Family moved to Lewiston, Idaho, in 1964. John worked as a Superintendent at the Dworshak and Little Goose Dams. He developed property in the Lewiston Orchards, where the Family resided for seven years. In 1972, the Family settled at English Point at Hayden Lake, Idaho, where he built lakefront homes. He retired and moved to St. Maries, Idaho, where many of his children and their families reside. John and his wife recently celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary and his birthday. He personified the Father who was extremely devoted to his family, and was always there for his wife and eight children, and they in turn, were devoted to him. One of his six sons stated that "Our Dad was closer to God than anyone I know." John is survived by his loving wife, Patricia, and their children, John P. "Mike" Maland Jr., St. Maries, J. Christopher Maland, St. Maries, Molly K. Falkner Ray, Everett, WA., Mark D. Maland, Everett, WA., Julie P. Clark Dan, Coeur d'Alene, T. Scott Maland, Post Falls, Todd A. Maland, St. Maries, and Peter H. Maland, Post Falls, seventeen grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Robert B. Maland, and sister, Wanda J. O'Dea, granddaughter, Kimberly K. Falkner, and great-grandson, Walker Z. Maland. Funeral Mass will be at St. Mary Immaculate Church, St. Maries, ID. Saturday January 22, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. Father Timothy Ritchey Officating. A gathering of family and friends will be held at Benedictine Hall after the Mass. Please sign the online memorial and guestbook at www.hodgefuneralhome.com. Hodge Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
