Jerry Lynn Packard

Jerry Lynn Packard was born January 7th, 1933 at Pocatello, Bannock County, Idaho. A son of Isaac Charles Packard and Myrtle Gammell. He was born at the Lynn Hospital which was then located at the corner of the 200 Block on North Arthur and Clark Street. The hospital was upstairs in that building. He weighed in at a whopping fourteen pounds. His folks gave him his middle name of Lynn after Dr. Lynn. He was one of twelve brothers and sisters.

He was raised in Pocatello and attended the old Lincoln Grade School which was on the 1400 block of North Main, Irving Jr. High and Pocatello High School.

As a young boy growing up, it became evident of his great love for the out-of-doors and nature with beautiful hills and streams. He was always hunting or fishing with his older brothers, Jack and Ted. He liked to tell the story of when he was a youngster, and of course then no cars for the kids to drive, the boys would beg their mother to let them go camping and fishing for the weekends up Cherry Springs. Cherry Springs was way out in the country at that time. She usually never seemed to mind and would always give her permission. The only thing she disliked though was washing their bedding all the time because they didn't have sleeping bags. The boys would load up bedding, food and fishing gear in a little red wagon and tie the wagon to their bikes and up towards Cherry Springs they would peddle. As years went by, he then got to go with Ted in a Model T Ford. He lay up in the back window looking out.

As time passed, he became restless sitting in high school just day dreaming and looking out the window. He decided to leave school and join the Navy. He became interested in the Navy from his older brother, Joe; who was a career Navy serviceman. This was the time of the Korean conflict when he enlisted in the service. He realized the value of learning when he was in the Navy and finished his education in the service. He entered the Military Service in March of 1951 and was honorably discharged in April 1955. He served aboard the USS Essex and USS Point Cruise. He traveled to Hawaii, Korea, Japan and the Philippine Islands; and of course he got to see lots and lots of the Pacific Ocean. He met interesting people from different countries and parts of the world. He liked the Navy but couldn't become a career man because he had to get back to his mountains and streams. He became a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #735.

When he was discharged from the service, he did odd jobs until April 4, 1958 when he became a member of the Plumbers & Steamfitters Union Local No. 648 of which his older brother, Jack, belonged. He and Jack go to work together on constructions jobs, and he was always grateful to his big brother for his help and looking out for him. He taught apprenticeship school in the early 1970's in Blackfoot. A few of the jobs he worked on were the following: dormitories for men and women at ISU; LDS Institute; J.R. Simplots; FMC; power house at American Falls when the new dam was built; numerous projects at the INEL Site; and the Pocatello Regional Medical Center from the time the first shovel of dirt was dug until the hospital was completed. He installed the gas in the surgery rooms. He joked with the doctors telling them he didn't want to be the first patient in the surgery rooms until his work was tried out on someone else first. The doctors assured him he did a great job because they never lost a patient. He laughed again when he had to install the big therapeutic hot tub. He threw the instructions away and installed the tub the way he knew it should be done. He traveled out of the area and state at different times to secure employment for his family. He always shared his talent for plumbing with relatives, friends and neighbors when they would ask for advice or needed help. He retired form construction work.

He met his loving wife, Eva Helen Evans, through friends when he became involved with construction work in plumbing and she worked for the electrical union. They were married at Elko, Nevada on the 16th of May 1959. He was a convert to the LDS Church and was baptized on the 6th of January 1962. He served in the Young Men's program and as a home teacher. He took his wife and three children; Richard Lynn (born 21st of March 1957), Gary Lynn (born 13th of January 1960), and Wendy Lynne (born 30th of October 1963), and they were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on the 16th of March 1965. All three of his children were given the middle name of Lynn(e) after him.

He instilled in his three children the same love for the out-of-doors he always had. Wendy even got her first deer at the age of twelve. When Rick and Gary were growing up, they always had a gun or fishing pole in their hands. The "Packard Clan" each fall headed for Lochsa for their annual vacation elk hunting camp out trip. When the boys were finishing up their education, they too started going on those outings every year. The guys looked forward to the elk hunting trips all year long. Don't know if they went for just the elk, they didn't always get one, or for the joy of being together; camping; seeing the scenic country; or talking and joking around the campfire. Of course some years, they did come back home with the big, big racks.

He was always a supportive father and stood behind his children in their endeavors whatever they were; family, church, sporting activities, education including universities, vo-tech programs, apprenticeships and their professions they each chose to pursue. He was proud of their many accomplishments.

When he and Eva were first married, they bowled for a number of years on different leagues. Later on after the children were just about raised, they both became interested in gardening. They spent every spare minute planting flowers, digging weeds, planting a small garden or cutting grass in their big yard on Fairmont Street. In 1987 when the Pocatello Chamber of Commerce presented the first People's Choice Award for a pretty yard, they won it plus the Golden Arrow Award that year.

They then started to go camping with the grown children and grandchildren and enjoyed it so much that in 1988 with some persuading by his brother, Gordon, they bought some lots next to Gordon in Island Park and began the next stage of their lives by clearing and cleaning the lots, and then worked the next few years building a family cabin with the help of his sons, Rick and Gary as well as grandson, Derrick. It couldn't have been built without all their expertise workmanship and faithful help. He loved and looked forward to every moment he spent plumbing, painting, sheet rocking, and pounding nails. Of course, he didn't touch the electrical work, he left that to Rick and Gary.

Derrick was a regular little trooper always helping out. He became a "Jack-of-all-trades." Wendy, Randy, and grandchildren; Brandon, Kristi and Robby, would call the family at the cabin from Hayden Lake giving works of encouragement to all. It was quite a challenging experience to take on so late in life. In fact fishing had to take a back seat to the construction of the cabin. He wanted to be up at Island Park as often as possible to enjoy the fruits of their labor at the base of majestic Sawtell Mountain.

He was an adoring and caring grandfather and loved his grandchildren; Derrick, Brandon, Kristi, Robby, Emma Lynn and Daniel.

Jerry is survived by; sons, Rick Packard & Gary (LaRee) Packard; daughter, Wendy (Randy) Astin; siblings, Betty Anderson; Donald Edward "Ted" Packard; Barbara June Lundberg; six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by; his wife, Eva Packard; his parents and three brothers and five sisters.

Family will receive friends at an open house that will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 18, 2018 at Wilks Funeral Home 211 W. Chubbuck Road. Private family graveside services will be held at a later date in the Mountain View Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by visiting the "Tribute Wall" tab above.