Joe W. Terrell, 86

Joe W. Terrell, 86, of Boise, formerly of Mountain Home, died Friday, Dec. 8, 2006, of natural causes.

There will be a viewing on Thursday, Dec. 14, from 5 p.m. until time of vigil at Summers Funeral Home, Ustick Chapel in Meridian. Vigil services will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 14, at Summers Funeral Home, Ustick Chapel, 3629 E. Ustick Rd. in Meridian, with Rev. John Legerski officiating. Funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 15, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Mountain Home with Rev. Legerski and Fr. Raul Covarrubias, celebrants. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Mountain Home.

Joe was born on June 14, 1920, in Blandville, Kent., one of nine children of James R. and Essie M. Terrell. He graduated from high school in Ballard County, Kent., in 1938 and then attended business college in Kentucky, receiving an associates degree in business administration.

In February 1942 Joe enlisted in the Army Air Corps to serve his country in WWII. He was trained as a navigator and began flying missions in Europe in 1943. On his first mission over Germany, Joe's plane was shot down and he was held captive in a German POW camp until the war ended in 1945. In honor of Joe's service to his country, he was subsequently awarded the Purple Heart and a Congressional Medal of Valor from Sen. Larry Craig and the American Legion.

Joe moved to Mountain Home, Idaho in 1946 to own and operate the Oregon Train Restaurant with his brother, Jake. That same year he met Lenore Bideganeta and they were married on June 23, 1946. Joe and Lenore had three children, Judy, Rich and David, who were born and raised in Mountain Home.

During Joe's 42 years in Mountain Home, he had a varied and interesting business career. After selling the restaurant, he spent the next several years in civil service and state government positions.

In the late 1960s Joe took the position that he will long be remembered for in the Mountain Home business community. He was appointed to be the Hospital and Nursing Home Administrator for the facility in Elmore County. Over the next 20 years, Joe was very successful in the operations and expansion of the hospital and nursing home, and was well respected throughout the health care industry in the state of Idaho, his family noted.

Joe was active in the Mountain Home community, serving in many capacities in the American Legion, Chamber of Commerce, Mountain Home Basque Association, Mountain Home Elks, the Men's Golf Association, and Our Lady of Good Counsel Church.

In 1988 Joe and Lenore -- "Papa and Nana" -- moved to Boise so that they could be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Joe devoted his time to volunteer work and his grandchildren, and rarely missed his grandchildren's sporting events, school functions, or any special occasion that he and Nana could be involved in.

He will long be remembered by his family as the "Best Papa in the World."

His volunteer work included the Knights of Columbus, Meals on Wheels, St. Vincent's Food Bank, the American Legion, and Holy Apostle Catholic Church.

Joe is survived by: his daughter, Judy Cline; sons Rich and his wife, Claudia Terrell, and David and his wife, Debbie Terrell, all of Boise; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; sisters Louise Viniard and husband Clois, and Emily Shemwell and husband Charles; brothers-in-law Dr. John Bideganeta and wife Margaret, and Jimmy Downs; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Lenore; his parents; and seven brothers and sisters.

Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels, 707 N. Armstrong Pl., Boise, 83706, or Holy Apostle St. Vincent DePaul's Food Pantry, P.O. Box 708, Meridian, 83680, or to a favorite charity.