Another monumental loss in our community with word on Tuesday of the passing of Bob Templin. Mr. Hospitality was far more a description of the good heart of Bob than of his long career in the hospitality industry. In the decades I knew Bob I never heard him raise his voice or speak ill of anyone. He loved his family, his community and most of all his faith. I think there must be a photo of Bob in the dictionary next to the definition of the word gentleman.

He was a builder, although not just of brick and mortar but of those around him. From busboys to community leaders, Bob’s respectful treatment of his fellow man is a model for us all. He lifted up anyone fortunate enough to be in his company, no matter their station in life.

Bob Templin was another of that rapidly disappearing Greatest Generation of World War II veterans, a man who served his country and then spent a lifetime serving his community. He and his beloved wife Mary attended every Memorial Day ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls and in 2015 Bob was recognized for 70 years of continuous membership in the American Legion.

Since Frederick Post built a lumber mill in 1871, through the generations there have been a handful of people who have had an impact on the growth of Post Falls. A century later, Bob’s willingness to invest in the construction of Templin’s Resort on the Spokane River in the 1980s, when this was a small town of just several thousand, spurred much of the next decade of economic growth.

I was fortunate to work with Bob in my capacity as the publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. He was generous in sharing the history of our community, another passion he held.

We had a meeting or two in the old Don’s Pool Hall across from the newspaper office to talk about the revitalization of the Post Falls city center. I worked with him at the Chamber of Commerce and through his service on the Idaho Travel Council. Most of all, I was blessed to call him my friend.

These are most certainly the twilight years of the World War II generation of veterans, we should treasure those still in our midst. Not only to honor them for their service but to follow their example of citizenship, humility and character.

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Bert and I have different coping mechanisms for dealing with cabin fever. I prefer to curl up in a big down quilt, read books and consume carbs. He likes to do indoor home improvement projects so once the seasons change and the sun comes out, he can be out there enjoying life. Last week he installed eight panels of a wall-sized mural in our living room. This weekend he began the removal of the hideous faux bricks on our kitchen walls. I suppose 35 years ago the faux bricks were fashionable but not so much after we’ve looked at them, tried to clean them and endured them for three decades. As long as he’s replacing them with a tile backsplash he figured we may as well replace the almost-as-hideous laminate counter tops that we’ve meant to replace for a couple of decades.

I asked him what other projects he has lined up and it appears Casa Thoreson will have a new garage door and a new roof by the time summer’s here. I don’t need to ask what Bert plans to do over the summer as just last week he was “trying on” kayaks.

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I really enjoy learning back stories of people I know and Kathleen Tillman’s is quite interesting. She’s a successful Realtor with Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty which is the context in which I’ve known her for many years. But thanks to an old photograph her daughter, Mary Hogan, posted on Facebook I learned Kathleen at one time held the rank of deputy and officer. In 1979 she began a law enforcement career that spanned nearly a decade — first with the Santa Clara Sheriff's Office and later as one of the first women on patrol with the Los Altos Police Department.

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Saturday is the annual Wine, Stein and Dine to benefit the Post Falls Education Foundation’s classroom instructional grants, 7-10 p.m. at the Greyhound Park and Event Center. 208-691-4675 or www.pfefwsd.org

In keeping with Saturday’s theme of adult beverages and good causes, attend the Matt’s Place Foundation Pub Crawl in downtown Coeur d’Alene, beginning at 4 p.m. at Coeur d’Alene Eagles, benefiting PALS (People with ALS). www.mattsplacefoundation.com

Also on Saturday, the Bartender’s Ball, from 6-9 p.m. at The Resort Plaza Shops, features libations and appetizers from several local businesses and benefits H.E.L.P. (Help Every Little Paw)

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Happy birthday today to Faye Griffiths, June Goecke, Marina Otter, Lisa Tucker, Connie Chalich, Bud Kobs, Megan Aker, Karen Welts and John Billetz.

Tomorrow LeeAnn Cheeley, Conrad Nelson, Sharon Menti, Rhonda Shippey, Ginny Easterly, Alexander Endo, Randy Hurt and Nickolas Aker put on their party hats. March 3 is the birthday of Rebecca Kilmer, Rich Henning and Gail Kinloch.

On Saturday Michael Ward, Chris Guggemos and Jon Newcomb are the birthday boys. Natalie Eckstein, Becky Funk, Jim Riley, Amy Tolzmann, Paula Ryan, Nicole Barnhart, Kelly Lattin, Hallie Gennett, Allison Mehan, Stacy Veach, Carly Hall and Matt Matthews celebrate on Sunday.

Billie Dust, Rich Winter and Adam Johnson mark another year on Monday. March 7 is a special day for my sister Janna Scharf, Heidi Rogers, Jaime Jaworski, Todd Gilkey, Wayne Larson, James Barfoot and Julie Sandstrom.

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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.