William A. “Bill” Holstein, of Sweet/Horseshoe Bend, passed away at his home on April 25, 2012, at 70 years of age.

Bill, the second child of Alex and Hilda Holstein, was born in Coeur d’Alene on Sept. 8, 1941. At a young age his family moved to a small home in Bovill where he made his first encounter with, in his words, “a large, vicious, 20-foot long, multi-fanged snake. In his father’s words, it was a fairly small bull snake. Snakes were the only creatures Bill was afraid of, for the rest of his life.

He played as a guard on the football team, held class offices, then graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1959, placing academically in the top 10 out of a class of more than 200 students. Bill chose his academic scholarship to North Idaho Junior College, as opposed to his offered football scholarship to Carroll College in Montana. He spent his undergraduate studies, majoring in psychology, at the University of Idaho where he also attended law school.

The Coeur d’Alene Press gave Bill his first job as a paperboy. While attending college he worked in the produce department at Safeway and then at the Rathskeller Inn, in Coeur d’Alene, where he was a bartender/bouncer. During this time the Coeur d’Alene Centennial was held and Bill won the “Most Handsome” category as an entrant in the beard contest. The win “went to his head” and he wore a beard for most of the rest of his life.

Bill met his first wife, Linda Lindgren (from Spokane), while working at the Rathskeller and they were married in 1966. He loved children all his life and practiced his patience and understanding of youth by being an excellent father to his three children: William, Brad and Laura.

In 1966 he began working for State Farm Insurance Company as an auto claims representative in Salem, Ore. He also worked in the Missoula, Mont.; Lewiston (where he coached a Boys Club football team); and Boise claims offices. Gaining claims knowledge lead him to become extensively involved in State Farm’s in-house training programs, for adjustors, by teaching classes and giving seminars on the State Farm insurance policies and handling of litigation files. Outside of State Farm; in 1980 Bill served as president of the Boise Association of Idaho Insurance Adjusters and also served as chairman and member of the Idaho Panel of the Nationwide Inter-Company Arbitration Forums. The National Business Institute called upon him to co-author several manuals with seminar presentations pertaining to the subject matter contained in the manuals. Bill retired from State Farm in 2004.

Bill and Linda started Boise Pool Sales (a family run swimming pool business) in 1974. Since Bill was working full time for State Farm, Linda oversaw the majority of the pool business with their sons Will and Brad becoming involved as they grew older. Boise Pool & Spa shut its doors in 1996 and the family finally took a vacation.

In 1980, Bill joined the Optimist Club in Meridian and led the club to honor status as president in 1983-1984. After serving as various district committee chairman and Lt. Governor, he was appointed district secretary-treasurer, and was honored to be elected to serve youth of many communities as Pacific Northwest District Governor for 1990-1991 (overseeing all Optimist clubs in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and British Columbia). After his governorship ended he was called on to serve as the Optimist International Foundation Representative for the district.

Bill also served on the board of directors for Prevention Foundation (a nonprofit corporation involved in keeping youth out of our court systems): as treasurer and president of Courts of Excellence (a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving court facilities and training as it applies to juveniles): and served on the Idaho state board of directors for the Hugh O’Brien Youth Foundation (HOBY). The three youth activities Bill most enjoyed participating in from year to year were the Meridian Optimist annual Easter egg hunt where he was the pre-hunt-off announcer and since his retirement driving a courtesy golf cart at the Boise Noon Optimist Football Field, on Hill Road, during the fall football season. He was often asked to assist as a Santa Claus volunteer during the holiday season.

Bill is survived by his wife, Linda; children, William and Brad; siblings, Larry Holstein (Lori) and Connie Willey; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, older sister Helen and daughter Laura.

A graveside service will be held at noon Saturday, May 5, 2012, at the Sweet-Montour Cemetery, followed by a reception in the Horseshoe Bend Mutual Improvement Club (The Ladies Club). Viewing will be held from 3-8 p.m. Friday, May 4, 2012, at the Potter Funeral Chapel in Emmett and from 9-10 a.m. Saturday, May 5, 2012.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions may be made to the Optimist Club and/or Youth Organization of your choosing.