Ben Patzer, 86
Hubert Benjamin "Ben" Patzer passed away at Kootenai Medical Center on Monday, Nov. 15, 2010, due to congestive heart failure. Ben was a Coeur d'Alene native who was born on Jan. 12, 1924, to Benjamin and Lydia (Merkel) Patzer. He lived all of his life in Coeur d'Alene where he attended school, participated in sports and graduated with the class of 1942.
Ben married Leone Anderson on April 4, 1948, and during their happy marriage of 62 years they had two children, David L. and Gloria Jean Patzer.
Service to others was always important in Ben's life on this Earth and he performed that in various capacities. He served his community through elected and appointed positions with the Lake City Senior Center, as a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge, as a 33rd degree KCCH member of the ancient and accepted rite of the Scottish Rite Order and was with the Coeur d'Alene Shrine Club Calam Temple. He was a member of the eight man octocycle unit with the Shriners and participated in numerous parades. He was also a 50-year member of Queen Esther Chapter No. 12 Order of Eastern Star and a 60-year lifetime member of the Eagles Lodge.
From 1945-1950 he served the city of Coeur d'Alene as a member of the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department. From 1950-1968 he was employed by Continental Baking and Boge Brothers Baking as a bread driver/salesman. In 1968 he bought out the Exxon (Enco) Petroleum Distributorship from Vern Hippler and operated Patzer Oil until his retirement in 1989. Throughout his life he enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, traveling and continued his community service especially with the Senior Center.
Survivors include his wife, Leone at the home; a son, David Patzer and wife, Jena Hayenga; grandson, Mason and granddaughter, Makendra Patzer; a daughter, Gloria (Patzer) Weidner and her companion, Brice Shoemaker all of Coeur d'Alene; sisters, Lila Jaeger of Fairfield, Wash., and Bonnie Schulke of Libby, Mont.; numerous nieces and nephews; and a special cousin, Linda Strahan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Lydia; an older brother, Irvin; sisters, Laura, Violet and Dorothy; and a son-in-law Daniel Weidner.
The family would like to especially thank Dr. Nesse and his staff and the compassionate and caring members of the KMC staff for their care during his health challenges.
The family prefers memorials to the Shriner's Children Hospital, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99210 or the Lake City Senior Center, 1916 N. Lakewood Drive, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.
A service to remember and celebrate Ben's life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, at the Scottish Rite Center, 8889 N. Strahorn Road (near the corner of Strahorn and Honeysuckle Road) in Hayden Lake, with a reception to follow. Yates Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.
Please visit Ben's memorial and sign his online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.