John Staniewski

John Albert Staniewski, 82, passed away peacefully on March 29, 2026 at his home in Sandpoint, Idaho surrounded by his children after an almost three-year battle with melanoma.

John was born on April 7, 1943 in Denver, Colorado to Edward and Genevieve Staniewski. He would often talk about this childhood growing up in the back of a bar before paying his own way to attend Regis High School, graduating in 1961. He would go on to earn two degrees at the University of Colorado, a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts in 1966 and a Doctor of Medicine in 1971.

John would spend the next several years completing his residency at the Cleveland Clinic and serving in the Navy. He served as a medical officer for the Naval Training Center in Bainbridge, Maryland for two years until his honorable discharge in 1974 to pursue his medical career before completing his residency at the Cleveland Clinic in 1976. During this time, he married Michal Varley in 1969 and also had his first two

children, Katharine in 1970 and Amee in 1972. John and his first wife, Michal Staniewski, ultimately divorced and she would pass away in 1982.

John would go on to serve as an exceptional board-certified internist and hospitalist for over 40 years. He began his practice in Lewiston, Idaho, where he would meet and marry his second wife of 39 years, Stephanie Fosberg, and have his third child, Drew.

He would go on to practice in Utah and Tennessee before finding his calling as a locum tenens physician for the last decade plus of his career. He enjoyed traveling the country practicing in all types of environments, from Port Townsend, Washington to a state prison in Alabama. He also practiced in New Zealand in 2009. He always possessed an exceptionally bright medical mind and became known as an extremely adept diagnostician throughout his career.

John was an avid traveler and adventurer. He was a scuba diver, golfer and hiker. He and his wife Stephanie traveled across globe to places like Machu Pichu, Patagonia, the Red Sea, and South Africa. He also took pride in instilling a love of travel and getting out there in his kids.

John would finally settle down back in Idaho in Sandpoint in 2012 to take care of Stephanie, who was diagnosed with brain cancer before passing away in 2020. During this time, he became a successful investor and, above all, Tesla enthusiast, much to the chagrin of his children. John is survived by his three children, Katie, Amee, and Drew, as well as his sister Francine. He is preceded in death by his father, Edward, his mother, Genevieve, and his wife, Stephanie.

Per his wishes, John was cremated following his passing. The family is planning a celebration of life during the third week of June in Sandpoint, Idaho. If you would like to connect with the family, please email his son, Drew Staniewski, at drew.staniewski@gmail.com.