Gage Austen Theard

Gage Austen Theard, 24, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho passed away March 19, 2016. Gage was born October 12, 1991 in Coeur d’Alene to Lauren Pacheco-Theard and Ben Theard. He attended Winton Elementary, Lakes Middle School, and graduated with honors from Lake City High School in 2010. While in high school, Gage was a member of the Boy Scouts of America Venturing youth development program, exploring firefighting. He went on to become a Reserve Firefighter for Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, earning an International Fire Service Accreditation Congress Firefighter 1 Certificate his senior year. He then attended Seattle Pacific University (SPU), where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. At SPU, he served as president of the Associated Undergraduate Students of Business and Economics and volunteered with Centurions, a Christian-based community service group. Gage then joined the United States Navy, graduated from Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, and began Navy Pilot Training in Pensacola, Florida with the rank of Ensign. He had completed many of the phases of his primary pilot training in the T-6 aircraft. During his youth, Gage played soccer with the Sting Soccer Club, football with Lake City High School, and was a vice-president of the Cougar Creek Ranchers 4-H club, of which he was a member for six years. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowboarding, and had a passion for woodworking of all kinds. Gage’s life was driven by a duty to serve and protect, as well as a deep love for his family and community. He is survived by his parents, Ben and Lauren Theard of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; four siblings, Eli Theard of Anaconda, Montana, Tamar Pacheco-Theard of Oakland, California, Rena Pacheco-Theard of Austin, Texas and Maurice Theard of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; and three nephews, Aidan, Wyatt, and Emmett Theard. A celebration of Gage's life will be held Sunday April 3, 2016 at 1:00 P.M. at Bell Tower Funeral Home at 3398 E. Jenalan Avenue in Post Falls, Idaho. The family suggests that memorials may be made in Gage’s honor to the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust or Legacies Alive.