John Nail

1/29/1940 — 7/17/2025

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John Claire Nail was born on a cold day in Grangeville, Jan. 29, 1940, to Bessie Harris Nail and Earl Nail. He died Thursday, July 17, 2025, from complications after surgery. He was 85.

John’s family moved to Harpster where they farmed until he was a teenager, when they moved to Lewiston. He worked a paper route in high school and enjoyed riding his bike around town to do his job. First it was bicycles, then his mother bought him a car, a 1954 Chevy, which he named Norma Jean and owned until his death. He had great fun racing the car with his friends at Deer Park Raceway. In later years he talked about putting 20 cent of gas in his car to keep it going.

After graduating from Lewiston High School, he joined the National Guard where he served three years trained in radio communications. He was introduced to Janet Mundlin by her brother, Gary. They married Dec. 3, 1960, and had two children, Kathreen and Tom, and divorced in 1977. During this time he worked at Idaho Beverages, servicing Pepsi machines in Moscow and Pullman. He then met Debra Topp Freand, whom he married Sept. 6, 1980. She brought three children to the marriage, John, Lori and David. John and Debra were married 44 years.

Over his lifetime, John enjoyed square dancing (he was once president of the Twin City Twirlers), playing his father’s fiddle, camping and staying at the family cabin. He spent much time in his shop, working on his cars and woodworking. He liked attending car shows and air shows.

John was a quiet, kind man who would help anyone in a heartbeat. His strong work ethic and generosity won the respect of innumerable people over his lifetime.

John is survived by his wife, Debra Freand Nail, two children: Kathreen Miller (husband, Richard) and Tom Nail (wife, Angie), two stepchildren: John Freand and David Freand, 16 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. Stepdaughter Lori Freand Showers preceded him in death. He was raised as a single child, so having such a large family in his later years was rather extraordinary.

The date of his celebration of life will be announced in the future. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations may be made to Parkinson’s Foundation at parkinson.org.

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