Richard Cloos, 68

Richard Paul Cloos, 68, passed away peacefully after a weeklong stay at Schneidmiller House in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, surrounded by loving family and friends. He is with his Lord and Savior in heaven and finally whole again. 

He spent his entire life in his beloved Silver Valley, where he married his devoted wife Debbie and raised three children, Dustin Cloos (Brenda) of San Antonio, Texas, Rikki Ramsey (Christopher) of Anchorage, Alaska, and Maria Sheppard (Shane) of Dalton Gardens, Idaho. 

In his younger years, he honed his natural skiing abilities at Lookout Pass and spent much time navigating the trails and moguls. Over the years, many family and friends commented on his fluid, beautiful skiing style. He seemed truly happy on the slopes. When he married and had children, he traded those convoluted trails, jumps, and speed bumps for the journey that a relationship and raising children bring. He worked in the mines most of his life, making his first phone call to his wife-to-be while he was working as an underground motorman at the Star Mine in Burke, Idaho. He later worked at the Galena Mine in Wallace, Idaho, and then for U.S. Silver as a Hoistman and laborer. 

Rich loved woodworking, socializing, playing cribbage, rock and roll and long, philosophical conversations about life and God. Sundays were for church, a red beer and cheering on the Seahawks. He loved scenic drives and taking long, sunny motorcycle rides in the mountains with friends. He also loved complaining endlessly about roadwork, population growth in Coeur d'Alene and how to do just about everything right. It was his wish to live and die in the place that he loved and his wife, Debbie, made that dream possible. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Mary Cloos, and survived by his wife, Debbie; his children and his grandchildren, C’era Cloos, Ethan Cloos, Ayla Sheppard, Carter Rogers, Mya Sheppard, Stella Sheppard and Samson Sheppard; his brother, Randy Cloos (Judy) of Osburn, Idaho; and sisters Mary Lynn Duval (Mike) and Robin Gray (Jim) of Hayden, Idaho, and their children and families.