Jake N. Molenaar
Oct. 7, 1914 - March 15, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 11:42 AM PDT
Boise
On March 15 of two thousand and eight,
A kindred soul and spirit met his fate.
Gone to sleep, A light in the dark.
He touched many and left his mark.
His words flowed forth, and many knew,
How special he was to us and you.
And on that day as tears ran down,
all our family and friends gathered around.
Asking us, “What’s wrong? Why are you sad?”
We answered,
“We’ve lost something special,
We’ve lost our dad.”
Jake N. Molenaar died peacefully at his home on March 15, 2008, with his loving family at his side. A viewing will be held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. this evening, Tuesday, March 18. at Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel. A vigil service will follow the viewing and begin at 7 p.m. A Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday March 19, at St. Mark’s Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Morris Hill Cemetery.
Jake was born in Nyssa, Ore., on Oct. 7, 1914. He was the son of John and Marie Molenaar. After graduating from Ontario High School, he farmed for awhile, and then moved to Boise where he learned the watch repair business. In the early ‘40s, he bought his first jewelry store. As written in the “portrait of a distinguished citizen” in the Idaho Statesman, over the next 37 years Jake had a hand in nine more stores. Most of the names associated with Boise’s jewelry businesses are people who worked for him.
Through the years he served as a member and president of the Intermountain Jewelers Association. He was a member and director of the Boise Chamber of Commerce and served as official starter of the Christmas Holiday Parade for 20 years, as well as serving as parade chairman and parade marshal. He was a board member of the Idaho State Automobile Association, past president of the Boise Lions Club, a member of the Boise Elks Lodge, Captain of the Ada County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse, Idaho Thoroughbred Breeders Association and the Greek organization AHEPA.
Much of his free time was spent as an inventor, having two registered patents in his name, one for a fireplace insert and one for a horse hauling truck. Jake also loved to race horses at Les Bois Park. He was an accomplished carpenter and a knowledgeable mechanic.
In 1994 Jake and his family donated land located on Maple Grove to be used as a neighborhood park.
Jake was married to Georgia Dagres on Aug. 12, 1950 in Elko, Nev. To this union three daughters were born, Ann Marie, Susie and Jackie. Jake and Georgia were true partners in life and in business. Their best times were spending time with their family, especially their grandchildren.
Jake was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Georgia; his parents; his son, Ronnie; his sister, Margaret Cambridge; his brothers, John and Ray Molenaar; his brothers-in-law, Hal Ryan, Nick Dagres, Bob Cambridge; and his sister-in-law Dorothy Molenaar.
Survivors include his three daughters and their spouses: Ann Marie Schram, and her husband, John, and their daughters Susan and Christina; Susie Butterfield and her husband, Scott, and their sons Tyler, Jake and Sam, and Jackie Hagood and her husband, Mike, and their daughters Jade and Tiffany. Also surviving Jake are his sister Johanna Molenaar; his brother-in-law, Frank Dagres and his wife, Helen; sisters-in-law Irene Molenaar and Ann Ryan; numerous nieces and nephews; and his devoted dog, Tiger.
Memorials may be given to the Idaho Humane Society, 4775 Dorman, Boise, Idaho 83705, or to a favorite charity.
