John Carman Giampietri

GIAMPIETRI, John C. (age 98) – Entered in to rest on May 19, 2021 at home in Spokane. John was born in St. Maries, ID and moved with his family to Spokane as a young boy. He attended St. Anne Elementary School and graduated from Gonzaga Prep. While in school, he started a 20+ year career with White Pine and Sash Lumber Co. He also served our country during WW II with the U.S. Coast Guard. A busy young man, John was lucky to find and fall in love with his dear wife to be, Thelma Klassen. They shared love, life and family together until her passing in 2009. John finished his working career retiring from Kaiser Aluminum as an Equipment Operator/Driver. As a younger man, John, also had a promising career as 1st Baseman with the Spokane Semi-Pro Ball team the RAINIERS where he was known as a solid ‘Lefty’. He was an avid outdoors man, loving camping, boating, snowmobiling, and all sports, spending much time with family and neighborhood friends. As their family grew, John and Thelma could be found hustling their 3 children, Kathy, Karen and ‘Mike’ out of the Dodge Stationwagon and into the boat, then pulling each of them on waterskies. John’s proud Italian heritage allowed him to spend many hours with friends from Spokane’s “Little Italy”. He so enjoyed his best buddy, Etter Milla, and others, as they put together their annual ‘Sausage Production/Sale’. He would never miss a grandchild’s or great-grandchild’s sporting event. And when the family youngsters, grew out of youth sports, John could be found cheering on the neighborhood kids as they played. John was a proud man who loved his family dearly. John was a long-time parishioner of St. Patrick Catholic Church. Comfort can be found in knowing he is again with Thelma helping her share her art and being surrounded by his ol’ Italian buddies. He is survived by his three children, Kathy Zickler, Karen E. Toombs, and John “Mike” (Sharon) Giampietri; by 8 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his loving Thelma after 59 years of marriage in 2009; by his parents; his sister, Ann Jones; a son-in-law, Jerry Toombs; and by a great-grandson, Baby Dakota Toombs. Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, May 27, 2021 at 10:00 A.M. at RIPLINGER FUNERAL HOME CHAPEL, 4305 N Division, Spokane, WA 99207. Interment with military honors will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.