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Thomas Nelson Loudin Sr., 87

Thomas Nelson Loudin Sr. was born March 26, 1932, in Beattyville, Ky., to Chester Arthur and Isa Belle Loudin. He passed peacefully with family at his side on June 21, 2019.

Raised in Kentucky, he joined the Air Force and was trained as an aircraft mechanic specialist. Tom was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base when he fell in love with the Northwest. Throughout his life, he experienced many different lines of work; flying seaplanes over Lake Coeur d’Alene, crop dusting in South Dakota; and long-haul trucking, driving to and through most of the lower 48 states. He later became a millwright and then an electrician before he retired from Idaho Veneer, in Post Falls. Although he never really retired, he was always eager to help others, or he would spend time at the equipment auction buying and then later selling items. You never knew what piece of equipment would show up on the property!

He loved to hunt and the family spent the summers scoping out next fall’s hunting spot, usually up the St. Joe River. He enjoyed most outdoor activities, including rafting down the river, motorcycle trips, four wheeling and even golf, which he loved and was quite good at according to him!

He was a very active member of the Lions Club, including Post Falls and Rathdrum clubs, and he helped to start the Hauser Lake club. He held lifetime memberships with the American Legion in Post Falls and Chandler, Ariz. He was also a member of The Eagles in Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls and he was a life-endowment member of the N.R.A.

Tom married Donna Brooks in 1953, and they were blessed with seven children: six sons and one daughter. They lived in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, until the spring of 1969, when they were lucky enough to move onto 80 acres in Post Falls. They divorced after 27 years of marriage. Later he met Arlene Mattson Nickerson and they were together for more than 20 years when they married in 2007. He had the good fortune to gain three more daughters and a son when he met Arlene.

He loved to visit and share his many adventures, especially of traveling the states, hunting and his love of airplanes. Many evenings were spent playing cards, especially “Hand and Foot,” where the evenings would turn into watching the sun come up.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Bill and sisters, Marie, Ruby and Virginia.

He is survived by his wife, Arlene; his sister, Emma Jo Phillips and brother, Jack; his children, Thomas Jr. (Kathy) of Post Falls, Diane (Bruce) Smith of Coeur d’Alene, Chester (Debbie) of Belfair, Wash., Gerald of Fairbanks, Alaska, Mark of Dalton Gardens, Mike (Jill), and Patrick (Laurie) of Belfair; step-children, Ken (Susan) of New Mexico, Sue (Gary) Harms, Sandra (Jay) Foster of Coeur d’Alene and Shelly (Mark) Brown of Coeur d’Alene.

His legacy also includes 30 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.

A celebration of life will be held from 5-7 p.m. on July 10, 2019, at the American Legion Post 143, 1183 E. Poleline Ave., Post Falls.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Legion Post 143.

English Funeral Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please sign his online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.