1917-2012

Robert D. (Bob) Piller passed away Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, at Kootenai Medical Center with his family by his side following a short illness. Bob was born in Isabel, S.D., March 28, 1917, to Frank and Jennie May (Hall) Piller and was raised on the family homestead. In 1934 the family moved West settling in Hayden. Bob married Helen E. Rooks on May 10, 1941.

After the outbreak of World War II, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard (which was assigned to the Department of the Navy) and served aboard the USS Eastwind in the north Atlantic until September 1945 after which he was honorably discharged. Bob was always proud of his service to his country and kept in touch with some of the men with which he served. During his time in the north Atlantic, the Eastwind was able to capture a German warship near Greenland. Most notably, it was the only German ship captured during the war. A small crew from the Eastwind then sailed the captured ship back to Boston, Mass. It was on this ship that Bob served as navigator.

After the war, Bob and Helen settled in Hayden where Bob worked as an auto mechanic. They had two sons, Rod and Greg. They moved to Coeur d’Alene and have resided there since 1967. He worked for the Idaho Department of Transportation for 21 years, where he later retired as Maintenance Superintendent in the 1981.

Bob loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter, fisherman and camping enthusiast throughout his life. After his retirement he took up golf and managed to play several times a week with his friends. He was always able to find something that interested him no matter where he was and rarely had a bad word to say about anyone. He was always first and foremost, a husband, father and grandfather and will be greatly missed by his family.

He is survived by his wife, Helen at the family home; sons, Rod and wife Jo, and Greg and wife Debbie; grandchildren, Doug, Jackee, Chad, Michael, Sherie and Jay; as well as several great-grandchildren; his brother, Thad Piller of Emmett; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Jeanette Casey and granddaughter Katharine Elisabeth.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012, at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1700 Pennsylvania Ave., Coeur d’Alene, with internment to follow. A gathering and meal will be held at the church after the services.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, 5705 Grant Creek, Missoula, MT 59808 or made online at www.rmef.org.

English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d’Alene, is in charge of the arrangements. Please sign Bob’s guest book at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.