Lohman Carrol Catron

Lohman was born in Rochelle, Ill., and graduated from Belvedere High School in 1956. He attended Northern Illinois University and attended a variety of electronic and telecommunication schools.

He began his career in the telephone industry with Automatic Electric, in Genoa, Ill., then worked for Leich Electric. In the fall of 1963 he moved to Havre, Mont. In 1967, a partnership was formed between Lohman and his high school friend, Jim Hoines. They traveled extensively, installing and troubleshooting telephone equipment in central offices. He moved to beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho in 1968, with his wife, Kaye, and daughter. He loved Coeur d’Alene so much he never wanted to live anywhere else. He continued to work in the telecommunications industry and his work took him all over, including Alaska where he spent many years installing telephone offices in remote areas that previously had no telephone service. He was one of the best troubleshooters west of the Mississippi.

He was a member of the Coeur d’Alene Jaycees and Eagles, where he met many of his best and long-term friends. He also owned the Luggage Rack store on Northwest Boulevard., which, along with the federal building and a Catholic rectory, were bombed in 1986 by the Aryan Nations. The bombs were meant as a distraction for bank robberies and to break into a National Guard Armory. He just happened to be late for work that day and missed the explosion. He also survived a head on car accident in the early 1960s, and two bush plane crashes in Alaska – he had many lives. He always said he wanted to live long enough to “suck the Social Security system dry.” It seems that he almost accomplished that.

Lohman was truly one of a kind. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, skiing, golfing, traveling, gambling, drinking and smoking. And not necessarily in that order. He was a true sports fan and had the ticket stubs to prove it. He saved nearly every ticket stub from sporting events he attended. True to form, even in Hospice he was hitting on the nurses.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and William Catron and brother, Richard Catron.

He is survived by his daughter, Kelli Catron Chavez (Greg); granddaughters Ryann and Maya; siblings,

Sheryl Gammon of Fairfield, Ill., Peggy Jones of Rochelle, Edward Catron of Rochelle, Sheila Catron of Rock Falls, Ill. and Tina and Mike Lockard of Byron, Ill.

His family is grateful for the amazing and loving care he received by Schneidmiller Hospice House of North Idaho. In lieu of flowers, please make any contributions in Lohman’s memory to Hospice of North Idaho or the Eagles or a charity of your choice.

A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.