John Antonio Barinaga ‘Jack’
April 18, 1926 - March 1, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009 11:02 AM PST
Payette
Jack Barinaga, 82, joined our Lord on Sunday, March 1, 2009, after a year-long battle with cancer.
Jack was born on April 18, 1926, to Basque immigrants Juan Barinaga and Elena Bilbao in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Growing up in Boise, Jack was the second of four boys. He attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School and graduated in 1944 from Boise High School. Jack had various jobs during his school years, including delivering telegrams by bicycle, working in the mines near Stibnite and summers spent helping with the family sheep business in the mountains near Cambridge, Idaho.
Upon graduation, Jack enlisted in the Navy and attended boot camp at Farragut, Idaho. He then went to signal school at Treasure Island, Calif., and served during World War II on the USS Gen RM Blatchford, a troop transport ship. Jack served in both the South Pacific and European Theaters. His final rank was signalman, third Class.
After the war, Jack attended Boise Junior College, Gonzaga and graduated from Idaho State University, earning a bachelor of arts in Economics in 1951. He then went to work for his father, tending sheep camp. When his father passed away in 1956, Jack took over the sheep outfit and ran sheep until 1983 when he retired.
Jack married Christine Larsen Miller, on Dec. 13th, 1968. He became a father to Christine’s two children, Kelly and Scott Miller. Jack and Christine then had three more children, Mary, John and Louis. Jack’s family was the focus of his life, and he cherished the time he spent with his children and grandchildren.
Jack enjoyed watching his children play high school sports, debating politics, exercising and making friends wherever he went. He is loved by many and never knew a stranger. Jack was incredibly proud of his Basque heritage.
Jack was a devout Catholic and a longtime member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church parish in Cambridge, Idaho, and, more recently, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Payette.
Jack is survived by his wife of 40 years, Christine; their children, Dr. Mary Barinaga (Doug Rigby), John (Melissa) Barinaga, Louis (Corinne) Barinaga, Kelly Baker; and seven grandchildren, Brett, Antonio, Nicholas, Xavier, Jack and Sophia Barinaga and Cassie Baker; his brother, Louis; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Nash and Albert; and stepson, Scott Miller.
Jack’s family extends a special thanks to Dr. Andrew Peterson, his treatment team at MISTI in Fruitland, and the staff of Pathways Hospice.
A Rosary will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 7, 2009, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Fruitland. The Memorial Mass will follow at 11 a.m. in the same location. Condolences to the family may be made at www.lienkaemper-thomason.com.
Memorials can be made in Jack’s name to the Corpus Christi Catholic Church Building fund, at 900 N.W. Seventh St., Fruitland, ID 83619.
