Charles Ivan Archer, 84

Charles Ivan Archer, 84, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, graduated from this earthly life Oct. 11, 2016. Ivan was the son of Richard and Olive “Gertrude” Archer and was born Sept. 11, 1932, in a weather boarded log cabin, without running water or electricity, on his grandfather’s farm in Noble County, Ohio.

He married Sally Ragland of Milford, Ohio, on July 6, 1957, having met on a hayride blind date when students at the Ohio State University. Together they had three children: Dawn (Steve) Jackson and David (Keri) Archer, and Deanne (John) Lewis. Grandchildren are Jessica Jackson, Timothy and Melinda Lewis, Dakoda and Noah

Archer. Ivan is also survived by a sister, Rose Etta Blackwood of Cambridge, Ohio.

Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant after completion of ROTC at Ohio State, Ivan served as both a tank platoon commander and company motor officer at Ft. Polk, La. With an agricultural degree in poultry science, Ivan became a county 4-H agent for OSU Cooperative Extension Service in Zanesville, Ohio, and later an Area 4-H agent based in Jackson, Ohio.

Having earned a Masters of Education from Colorado State University in 1968, he began looking for a career in the great American west and soon moved to Jefferson County, Colo., where he served as county Youth Specialist in 1969-1977 and County Director for Cooperative Extension Service from 1978-1983. Looking for “adventure and money,” he became 4-H Youth Program Coordinator for University of Alaska Coop Extension Service in Fairbanks, Alaska, until he was offered early retirement in September 1987, due to Alaska’s declining economy because of low oil prices.

Ivan and Sally traveled to more than 60 countries throughout the world, including 10 in southern Africa, plus Egypt, which is an entirely different look at a part of Africa. During five mission related trips to South Africa, Ivan taught Bible lessons, helped missionary with printing, mailing, construction, yard work, or whatever he was asked to do. He also taught Bible lessons in Mexico, Hawaii, Fiji, Germany, Kenya as well as served as teacher and elder in Churches of Christ in Zanesville, Ohio; Evergreen, Colo.; Fairbanks; and Dalton Gardens, Idaho.

Ivan enjoyed running in 5K and 10K events. Memorable races were the Midnight Sun Run in Fairbanks and Boulder-Boulder in Colorado. Although he was not a swimmer, he was thrilled with river rafting, especially Lava Falls in the Grand Canyon. He hiked on exceptional trails in locations including the 55 kilometer Milford Track in New Zealand; Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru; sections of Hadrian’s Wall in England; Skeleton Gorge to top of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, and the trail to Kalaupapa (leper colony) on island of Molokai, Hawaii.

Celebration of life is planned at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, at Dalton Gardens Church of Christ, 6439 N. Fourth St., Dalton Gardens, with a luncheon to follow.

Ivan’s final resting place will be the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Coeur d’Alene Christian School, 6439 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815 or to World Christian Broadcasting, 605 Bradley Ct., Franklin, TN 37067-9887.

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of arrangements. Please visit Ivan’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.