Al Olmstead, 70

Alfred Charles Olmstead Jr. “Al,” 70, of Dalton Gardens, Idaho, went to Heaven after a courageous battle with cancer at Kootenai Health, surrounded by his loving family on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. He was born in Van Nuys, Calif., to Alfred C. Olmstead Sr. and Sue K. (Freeman) Olmstead. He was raised in Southern California and Alaska, graduated from Venice High School and North Idaho College.

Al married the love of his life, Andrea (Milnar) in 1965 at the Wayfarer’s Chapel, Portuguese Bend, Calif. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. They celebrated 50 wonderful years of marriage last Aug. 27 and were blessed with a son, Aaron Scott, and a daughter, Brandi Leigh.

Al served in the Idaho National Guard and he and Andrea opened Olmstead’s Family Shoes in Coeur d’Alene and later, Connie’s Shoes, in Moscow, Idaho. He later was manager of Coeur d’Alene Skeet and Trap Club for five years, but was an active member there since the early ’70s where he sponsored many teams and shot on both trap and skeet teams.

Throughout the years, Al was active in Jaycees, the Chamber of Commerce, was President of the Downtown Business Association and supported innumerable youth baseball, basketball and soccer teams as well as local school activities and charities.

Al enjoyed many sports throughout his life, including football and wresting in high school and college. He also loved S.C.U.B.A. diving and hunting. His passion was shooting trap and skeet. He was a championship trap shooter. He loved elk hunting and sharing the beautiful outdoors with his family and friends.

Al was predeceased by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife, Andrea; daughter Brandi Leigh Olmstead; his son, Aaron Scott (Melanie) Olmstead; his half-sister, Patricia Flotten; and many cousins.

We are so blessed to have shared our lives with such a loving, kind, man. He was a great son, a wonderful husband and father and an outstanding friend. He will be deeply missed, but will always be in our hearts.

His wish was to be cremated and have his ashes scattered in his beloved mountains. We will have a celebration of life at a later date. Yates Funeral Homes is in care of the arrangements and you may visit Al’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.