John Robert Wells

John Robert Wells left off fishing in God's Country to join the Lord on May 31, 2011 after fighting a valiant battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Services are scheduled for Friday, June 3, 2011 at 11:30 in the Crossroads Community Chapel, in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. John was born in Indiana in 1948 where he lived until his family moved to Springville, California in 1958. John set his compass North from California in 1974, leaving family and friends, many of whom followed in his footsteps - looking for a place where an able bodied man could make an honest living while enjoying the lakes, streams and mountains of God's Northwest. He found that place in Bonners Ferry, ID and slept his first nights in the back seat of his car while working for Lonnie Jelinek. In the following years, John worked several construction jobs before striking out on his own with his long time best-friend Matt Madden, forming J&M Concrete. For more than thirty years John poured his heart and soul into Boundary County and beyond with quality concrete work. He built basements, slabs, retaining walls and sidewalks for countless customers, many of whom became lifelong friends. He took great joy in sharing his knowledge of the country, his love of fishing, and his joy in God's creation. He was known for his joy in taking young people under his wing and sharing with them his love for the outdoors. Not long after John made Boundary County home, he met the love of his life, Connie Toler, and in 1975 they made their home together with Connie's two young girls Karri and Kris. They lived their life in Bonners Ferry and the last several years John spent his spare time building the home he and Connie have enjoyed these last three years. John is proceeded in death by his parents, Robert & Francis Wells, older sister Sarah Dobson, younger sister Theresa Heller, younger brother Chris Wells, and his best friend and business partner Matthew Madden. He is survived by wife, Connie M. Wells of Bonners Ferry, daughters Karri Huggins of Sagle, and Kris Dufrene of Jacksonville, Florida. He is also survived by granddaughter Shawn, grandsons Joshua and Trey Dufrene; sister Kathy Patton and husband Gary of Porterville, CA., and brother Brian Wells and wife Gloria of Porterville, CA., along with numerous nephews and nieces. Family and friends are invited to sign John’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.