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Samuel Shelton Stewart II, 86

Samuel S. Stewart II, 86, passed away peacefully at Schneidmiller Hospice House in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, while surrounded by family.

Sam was born in Windber, Pa., on March 4, 1933, to Henry Hadley and Lois Margaret (Abram) Stewart. He grew up in Windber, graduated high school at Greenbrier Military School (Lewisburg, W.Va.) in 1951, attended his first two years of college at Greenbrier Military School, and graduated from Ohio University (Athens, Ohio) in 1955. He met the love of his life during the summer of 1952, when they both served as summer camp counselors. Sam and Carmen (Colebank) married on Sept. 18, 1954, and began their life adventure together.

After graduating college, Sam joined the U.S. Army and was stationed at Ft. Benning, Ga., and then served in the Reserves until 1965. Sam had a lifelong career in industrial sales, moving as needed and as he was promoted, including a two-year move to Kurume, Japan, to assist with a merger.

Sam loved to sing and had a great voice. He was the soloist for the band at Greenbrier Military School for six years and when his job required a move, he always joined the choir when he and his wife joined a new church.

Sam also was a great sports enthusiast. He played football in high school and college, played basketball and loved to play golf. He was a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates fan. While his daughters were in high school, he would be seen on the sidelines of most sports and was an active member of the School Booster Club.

He loved working with teens. Sam and Carmen were youth directors for their church for many years in Fremont, Calif., until a job transfer took them to Ohio. He considered the teens like his own children and kept in touch with many of them as they grew and went to college to be sure they were all doing well.

Sam was known as a great husband, father, grandfather, neighbor and friend, including any furry friend he met, rescued, adopted or gave a home to if a stray. He had an over-the-top sense of humor, and if a gleam was detected in his eye, you just knew he was working on or remembering a mischievous prank.

Sam is survived by his wife of 64 years, Carmen Stewart; his children, Nanci (Dan) Currie of Harrison, Idaho, and Linda (Darrel) Pozzesi of Corvallis, Ore.; grandsons Brad Stewart of Chicago, Ill., Nate Pozzesi of Redmond, Ore., and Nick Pozzesi of Corvallis; sister Jane (Earl) Lee of Virginia; sister-in law Marilyn Stewart of Virginia; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Henry (aka Duck).

The family would like to thank Hospice of North Idaho and the staff at Schneidmiller Hospice House for their compassionate care.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 16, 2019, at Coeur d’Alene Bible Church, 5350 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 2290 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815; or to Kootenai Humane Society, P.O. Box 1005, Hayden, ID 83835.