Arthur (Arty) Berkhoff, 68

Arthur Thomas Berkhoff, known by many as Arty, was born in Huntington, N.Y., on July 22, 1956, to Arthur and Elizabeth Berkhoff. He was the youngest of four children. He graduated from Walt Whitman High School in 1974 and attended Delhi Community College in New York. He is survived by his daughter, Nicolle Komar, his sisters, Jean Kovath and Ann Pezzoli, and his partner, Kristine Black. He will be missed greatly by family and friends from Idaho to New York and everywhere in between.

Arty grew up with a fascination with cars, boats and, most of all, motorcycles. He tinkered with motors from a young age and figured out how to fix them far before the time of YouTube. When the internet did come around, he even posted a few videos he made himself about some of his projects. He apprenticed as a mechanic as a young man, and it evolved into one of his greatest hobbies and passions. If Arty wanted something fixed, he could do it even if the part didn’t exist anymore. He was a problem-solver and found great joy in achieving his goals. He accomplished so much in life simply because he believed he could. 

He was born an adventurer. He found his way to Idaho after he and his first wife, Elisa, fixed up a motor home and proceeded to go on the great, two-year adventure of visiting every state. They brought along their beloved Doberman, Dino, for the journey. Arty was an excellent photographer, and he documented this trip through the lens of his film camera. He fell in love with Coeur d’Alene and set his roots down to stay. He loved traveling to the Washington coast and riding his motorcycle around the lakes in Cd'A. He was a member of the biker group The Procrastinators. He loved hiking, fishing, swimming and, most of all, camping. He was also a big animal lover; the cats Arty welcomed into his home brought great joy to his life. He was always there to help, and the first person any of his loved ones would call.

He was wise and one of the funniest people you could have the pleasure of meeting. Even through the progression of his diagnosis of ALS, Arty still was able to find humor and make the people around him smile. He was headstrong, courageous, independent and full of love. Arty left us losing the battle with ALS on Aug. 26, 2024. He was and still is loved and missed dearly. 

A memorial service for Arty will be held Sept. 28 at his home in Dalton Gardens starting at 1:30 p.m.