Joseph Robert "JR" Lake, 86, of Republic, Washington, passed away peacefully at his home on November 5, 2026.

JR was born March 15, 1940, in Spokane, Washington, to Joseph Harrington Lake and Doris Claire (Murphy) Lake. The oldest of four children, he grew up in Spokane and graduated from Gonzaga Preparatory School.

Having spent many summers working on his uncle's ranch and staying with his grandparents in the Republic area, JR developed an early connection to the community that would become his lifelong home. Following graduation, he moved to Republic, where he worked on several local cattle ranches before beginning his career with the United States Forest Service.

On November 28, 1970, JR married Joan Carol Bowlby in Tacoma, Washington. Together, they built a life in Republic and raised five children. Their nearly 56 years of marriage were filled with family, hard work, and the many responsibilities and joys of life together.

JR dedicated 35 years to the Forest Service before retiring. He was particularly well known for operating the road grader and possessed an extraordinary knowledge of the Forest Service roads throughout Ferry and Stevens counties. Few knew the backcountry roads as well as JR.

Outside of his career, JR was an accomplished and prolific woodworker who enjoyed creating things with his own hands. His craftsmanship and self-reliance were perhaps best demonstrated in the home he built for his family. Whether working with wood, maintaining his home, or lending his skills to help others, JR took pride in a job well done.

Hardworking, independent, and deeply devoted to his family, JR was a man who demonstrated his love through his actions. From a young age, he took responsibility for helping those around him, a quality that remained with him throughout his life. Whether caring for family, lending a hand to a neighbor, or simply doing what needed to be done, he could always be counted on. He rarely complained, preferring instead to quietly get on with the work at hand. He will be remembered for his quiet generosity, steadfast devotion to his family, and deep connection to the land and community he called home.

He is survived by his loving wife, Joan Carol (Bowlby) Lake; their five children, James Ryan Lake (Paula Lake), Thomas Patrick Lake (Victoria Lake), Sarah Kathryn Phin (Paul Phin), Molly Ann Severns (Sean Shields), and Emily Marie Kephart (Jack Kephart); and eleven grandchildren: Alexandra Lake, Samantha Lake, Zachary Lake, Allison Lake, Mya Phin, Jacob Phin, Cameron Leonard, Eris Severns, Garret Severns, McKenzie Kephart, and Shyann Kephart.

He is also survived by his sisters, LeAnn Lake and Kathryn (Lake) Welter. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Lewis Lake.

A Rosary will be held Friday, November 13, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church in Republic. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., with Father O'Leary officiating. Interment will follow at Republic Cemetery, with a luncheon afterward at the Republic Catholic Church Parish Hall.