Douglas Bitterle, 63

Doug Bitterle went home to be with the Lord on May 23, 2014, at Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Doug was born March 23, 1951, in Pontiac, Mich. Doug grew up in Riverside, Calif., where he met and married Sandy, his wife of 45 years.

In 1971, Doug moved to the Silver Valley. He worked as a locomotive crane operator for Bunker Hill, and then worked on the yard crew until the smelter closed. Doug then went to work for the Idaho Transportation Department, where he operated a snow plow and repaired roads for many years. He was forced to take a medical retirement due to issues with his heart. 

Doug enjoyed camping and boating with his family on Priest Lake. He also loved being at the ocean, fishing on the charter boats or just beachcombing. 

Doug was a founding member of the Kingston Baptist Church, where he will be greatly missed. He struggled with heart problems in his later years, but when asked how he was doing, he always responded with “just perfect.” 

Though his heart was weak, he loved much, and was loved by all those who knew him. He will be greatly missed. 

Doug was preceded in death by his mother, Susie. He is survived by his wife, Sandy Bitterle, of Kingston, Idaho; his sister, Linda, and brother, Patrick, both of Kingston; four children: Patrick Bitterle, of Philadelphia, Pa., Tina Bolle, of Kingston, Sherri Osborne, of Post Falls, Idaho, and Douglas Bitterle, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; six grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and several nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved dearly.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 1, at Kingston Baptist Church.