Wallace Lee Krahn, 71

Wallace Lee Krahn, 71, born in Gooding on June 20, 1940, to Ben and Gwendolyn Krahn passed Nov. 7, 2011, of heart and health complications.

Wallace (Wally) grew up in Fairfield on a farm and helped his dad raise milk cows. He later went on to find his sweetheart Nila Stoddard and married her on May 25, 1961. They had three children Josie, Kevin and Sheila.

He obtained a college degree at Idaho State University in accounting and then moved his family up to Coeur d'Alene in 1969. He worked for Boise Cascade, then became a Realtor and later opened a cabinet shop. He was an excellent, self-taught carpenter and could fix just about anything.

He was a good, loving husband and beloved father. He loved to laugh and make those around him laugh. He was always playing jokes and trying to get a reaction out of people. He and his wife took in foster children as well raising their own three children. He lost his only son at the age of 17 to a car accident. After that, he always took other boys under his wing to help them along. He was a big huggable bear who was very kind and good to others.

He struggled in his later life with his heart complications. He had three difficult surgeries in 2010 by a wonderful surgeon, Dr. Burnett, and had excellent care by Dr. Pataky for many years. Their care bought him an extra year and a half.

During that time he celebrated being married to his wife for 50 years, took a trip to Hawaii and also visited most of his family members in Idaho and California. Even though he was in very poor health at the end, he always had a joke, smile or a hug for everyone.

The family would like to thank the Good Samaritan, whomever you are, the day his heart stopped who stepped in to assist him.

Survivors include: wife Nila; daughter Josie Krahn; daughter Sheila (Fred) Sharp; grandchildren Sydney, Hayden and Shelby Sharp; his mother, Gwendolyn Krahn; brother David (Pam) Krahn and sister Ellen (George) Galvan. He had many extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his son, Kevin Lee Krahn; his father, Ben Krahn and his brother, Kent Krahn.

A viewing will be held from 4-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, at Bell Tower Funeral Home, 3398 E. Jenalan Ave., Post Falls. An additional viewing will be held preceding the funeral at the church. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2293 W. Hanley Ave., Coeur d'Alene, with internment immediately following at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens, 7315 Government Way, Coeur d'Alene.

Bell Tower Funeral Home, Post Falls, is in care of the arrangements. Please visit Wally's online memorial at www.belltowerfuneralhome.com.