Roy Earl Kisner, 89

Roy was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Earl and Alma Kisner. He vividly remembered the difficulties of the '30s and recalled, in detail, the Dec. 7, 1941, announcement.

Roy’s father was an engineer, and the family found itself relocating several times in support of the war effort, arriving in Berkeley, Calif., in late 1942, after a five-day train trip on the Union Pacific “Challenger.” Roy’s father spent the remaining war years in the Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond, Calif. The family returned to Ohio, where Roy attended high school, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1953 and served 10 months in Korea. Upon his discharge, in 1956, he enrolled in college and found employment in the aerospace business as a Technical Front Picker, as corporate contracts determined where one worked and lived. Lost contracts meant layoffs and awards meant hiring. After “Sputnik” in 1957, opportunities abounded with companies like Northrop, Aerojet and Douglas Aircraft. Roy took a position on the “Apollo” program and rose to Departmental Manager. 

In the late '60s, it was evident the program was ending, the then president’s “Great Society” of taxation and welfare expansion caused consternation and inspired Roy to embark on building a 41-foot trimaran sailboat to offer an opportunity to travel and voice objections to the government’s policies. After three years and 8,000 hours, the boat, Allegra, was launched in Sacramento, Calif., in November 1970 and was berthed in Alameda, Calif., while sea trials and final preparations were completed. In February 1973, she sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge and spent the next three years sailing throughout the South Pacific. Finally, it was sold in the New Hebrides (now the Republic of Vanuatu). Roy took a job as navigator on the French Interisland Trader, “Polynesie,” and eventually debarked in Sydney, Australia, where he purchased a motorcycle and spent the next year touring Aussie. After Australia, Roy backpacked across Asia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, etc. and arrived in London, where he spent the next year. Roy eventually returned to the USA in 1979 and found employment as a Project Engineer in the construction field, eventually working for the Bechtel Corporation, where he spent the next 25 years.

Roy found the type of work he enjoyed with Bechtel on airport construction, nuclear and fossil power plants, hydro-electric facilities and mine development. Most of the projects were overseas in Nigeria, Thailand, Indonesia, Russia and New Zealand. When all is said and done, Roy saw approximately 100 countries.

Roy purchased a piece of property on the Moyie River in 1982 and spent the next 36 years (sans some overseas assignments) modifying and improving the home and property. He relocated with his wife, Elany, to Coeur d’Alene in 2018.

Never one to exploit or discuss the sights and places he’d been, he only stoically said, “One would have to have been there to understand.”

Roy leaves his soulmate and dedicated companion, Elany, whom he married in 2003, his sister, Clair, his children, Roy and Tamara, four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. His youngest son, Brian Adam, passed in 2015.

Per Roy’s wishes, no funeral service or viewing is scheduled. However, there will be a celebration of life at 1 p.m. June 28, 2025, at the VFW, 6635 Lincoln St., Bonners Ferry, Idaho.