Thomas Edward Neeser

Thomas Edward

NEESER



Passed away on August 27, 2009 at his home after a hard fought battle with cancer. Born July 7, 1947 in Nampa, ID, Tom was the third of fourteen children of Louis and Verda Neeser. He was a great-grandson of Swiss émigré's John and Elizabeth of Neeser, ID (wagon train) pioneers and grandfather, Alma. His genes were also greatly influenced by his three Irish grandparents, Grace Fitzpatrick, James Pender and Margaret McNamara. Tom moved to Lewiston, ID at age two and lived in a tent while his father built their house in an apple orchard. This building effort eventually turned into Neeser Construction Company. Tom moved to Spokane, WA in the early 50's and attended St Aloysius grade school. He and his younger brother, Jerry spent those early summers riding their bikes and getting into un-admitted mischief. The family then moved to Coeur d' Alene in 1959 where Tom attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy. He was a standout on the football team and once MAY have kicked a 52 yard field goal. (There is some disagreement among family members regarding the distance of that kick.) During his high school years, Tom performed "slave labor" as one of four older brothers during the summers, helping to build several churches and schools in Idaho and Washington. During these years the family spent a good deal of time at lake property on Pend Orielle where he developed a life long love of the outdoors, becoming an avid fisherman and hunter.

Drafted during the Vietnam conflict into the United States Army, he served as a medic for two years in Germany before traveling the eastern and southern United States. He spent several years enjoying life in the 60‘s.

Tom married Kristen Wistert on December 31, 1971 in Ann Arbor, MI and they had a son Jason. He later spent 20 years with Darlene Cortner and they had a son Ryan. He then married Linda Jack on November 7, 2002 and helped raise Linda's children, Jason and Rowan. Linda compassionately cared for her best friend, Tom, during his extended battle with cancer.

As an adult, Tom worked as a commercial real estate developer in California with his brother, Michael and his father, Louis. In later years he worked with Michael Neeser as a construction developer for Mike's architectural firm in Reno, NV until disagreements ended their working relationship. Thomas also worked for or with his brother Jerry on various construction projects in western California and Alaska. Thomas believed he was instrumental in helping Gerald form important investment relationships with native tribes in the Alaskan region. He also remembered working on a few projects with Jerry in Alaska. His brother, Jerry, refuting these memories, related with a chuckle, "Well, Tom fished a lot back then." Apparently Tom did a lot of fishing throughout the next several decades excepting a brief period of time when he was asked by Jerry to assist with the development of a student housing project in Reno, NV. Thomas continued to oversee that project until his death.

Tom is survived by his wife, Linda; his children, Jason and Ryan Neeser; stepchildren, Jason and Rowan; brothers, Michael (Reno), Patrick (Boise), Gerald (Anchorage), Louis (Spokane) and Colman (Tacoma); sisters, Susie Blethen, Barbara Neeser, Coleen Quisenberry, all of Spokane, Kathy Riener (Ferdinand ID), Mary Meacham (Tacoma), and Molly Kernan (Chewelah WA) and 37 loving nieces and nephews as well many other family members. Many of us will miss his limitless curiosity, boundless love of life and the great outdoors, silver tongue and completely outrageous sense of humor. Tom was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Johnny and sister, Martha.

Services will be held 12 noon, Saturday, September 5, 2009 at St Thomas Catholic Church in Coeur d' Alene, ID with reception following at the Coeur d'Alene Resort.