Harold Harry Eckhart, 87, our beloved husband, father, grandpa and great-grandpa, Harold H. Eckhart, departed this life peacefully at his home in Post Falls, Idaho, on March 15, 2025. He was the youngest of four, born to Harry Henry Eckhart and Adelia Anna Lange in Chokio, Minn., on Oct. 27, 1937. He married Irene D. Clark on Nov. 10, 1978. Their blended family blessed them with eight kids, 22 grandkids, 33 great-grandkids and three great-great-grandkids.

Harold left the farm at age 17 to enlist in the Minnesota National Guard before joining the U.S. Navy from February 1955 to October 1958. After the military, he moved around between Washington, Idaho and Minnesota, working various jobs until he settled in Lewiston, Idaho, in 1960. He worked at Potlatch Pulp and Papermill as an Oiler from 1960-1996. In 1993, Harold and Irene moved to Grangemont above Orofino into their Cabin, which they began building in 1988. They commuted to Lewiston for work until 1996, when he retired. Desiring to move closer to their kids and grandkids resulted in their final move to Post Falls, Idaho, on Sept. 11, 2001. With Harold’s woodworking passion and Irene’s bookkeeping skills, they started H&I Woodcrafts in 2002. They cherished their weekends selling at the Kootenai County Farmers’ Market as long-time members and at craft shows until the fall of 2022.

Harold’s love for the outdoors included camping, woodcutting, riding four-wheelers and snowmobiles, boating, hunting and steelhead fishing. He was a member of the Moose Lodge in Clarkston, Wash.; an avid bowler with local leagues for years in Lewiston, Clarkston, Orofino and Post Falls; a Cub and Scout Master for eight years with the Boy Scouts of America in Lewiston. He loved traveling to the Oregon Coast and visiting family at home and all over the country.

Harold is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Irene Donnell Eckhart; three sons, Timothy Allen Eckhart, Byron James Clark and Robert Scott Eckhart and their families; three daughters, Kaye Lynn Morris, Donnell Tish Barnes and Tanya Leigh Hildebrand and their families; nephews and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Adelia Eckhart; his three siblings, Walter and Clayton Eckhart, Lois Kjeldahl; and his son, William Eckhart.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at English Funeral Chapel, 1700 N. Spokane St., Post Falls, Idaho, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the veterans’ organization Newby Ginnings of Post Falls: www.newbyginnings.networkforgood.com.

Visit Harold’s online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com. Please sign his guestbook and share a story or a picture.