Henry Buchanan, 84

Dear Friends and Family of Henry J. Buchanan: My dad, perhaps part of your family, too, or among your circle of friends, is gone. Following a brief illness, and with loving friends and family nearby, my dad died on Jan. 14, 2015. He was 84.

Dad was born in Kellogg, Idaho, on May 7, 1930. An only child to Mary Jane (Blake) and Henry C. "Old Henry" Buchanan, "Young Henry" grew up in the Silver Valley helping my grandpa with his store, garage, sawmill, and so on. At age 17, Dad got his start in trucking when he bought a lumber truck and drove for Whiteman Lumber Company. He was trained as a mechanic by the Army, serving from 1952 to 1954, married my mom, Iris (Doolittle) Buchanan in 1960, and spent a few years in Moses Lake, Wash., before settling in the Coeur d'Alene area. He lived at our place in Dalton Gardens for more than 50 years.

Although he was a truck driver and mechanic his whole life, my dad had many interests and would spend his non-work time reading and learning about them. He was smart, had an incredible memory and was a terrific storyteller, especially when he was sitting at the kitchen table swapping stories with old friends. They often started, "Do you remember the time ...," usually involved a narrow escape from serious injury, and were always incredibly funny. Best of all, they were true.

Dad retired from trucking when he was 70, met his dear friend and companion, June Mitchell, and once again hit the road. Together for 15 years, he and June traveled as much as possible on the roads and rails of the US. They also cruised to Alaska and through the Panama Canal. My dad cherished her and their many adventures.

Dad is survived by me and my husband, Bob Kabler of Blue Mounds, Wis., our girls Megan of Overland Park, Kan., and LeeAnn (attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln); my mom and my brother Dale L. Buchanan, both of Coeur d'Alene; my aunt and my cousins. Survivors also include June Mitchell of Dalton Gardens, and her extended family; as well as many, many friends, old and new.

My dad did not want a big funeral, but agreed to a graveside memorial and to placement in the Veterans Wall of Honor. Please join us at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens, 7315 N. Government Way, Coeur d'Alene, for a brief service.

Yours sincerely,

Deborah Z. (Buchanan) Kabler

Memorial gifts may be sent to the Capitol City Band Assoc., P.O. Box 258007, Madison, WI 53725 or to the Coeur d'Alene Public Library Foundation, 702 E. Front Ave., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814. Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene Chapel, is entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Comments, condolences or your favorite stories can be shared online at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com or sent to Dad's house.