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Charles Elton 'Chuck' Schoonover, 70

| October 14, 2004 9:00 PM

Charles Elton "Chuck" Schoonover, 70, passed away on Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004, at the First Lutheran Church in Sandpoint with Pastor Dave Olson officiating.

Chuck was born on June 7, 1934, in Seward, Neb., to Roley and Fairy Schoonover. He attended grade schools in Gering, Neb., and Whittier, Calif.

The family moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, and Chuck attended seventh Grade at Farmin Elementary. Chuck excelled at athletics; in high school he played baseball, football, and track. During his senior year of football he was elected as co-captain and to the North-South all-star team. After graduation in 1952, Chuck attended the University of Idaho on a football scholarship.

Chuck married his high school sweetheart Anita Beauchamp on Feb. 14, 1954, in Sandpoint. He went on to serve his country for two years in the United States Marines during the Korean War. After returning stateside, coach Cotton Barlow helped him secure a football scholarship to Columbia Basin College for one year. He then transferred back to the University of Idaho, where he completed his football career and graduated with a degree in education in 1962.

Chuck taught and coached at Orofino High School for four years, before returning to Sandpoint. During his 15 year teaching and coaching career at Sandpoint High School he served as assistant football coach, assistant track coach and eventually head wrestling coach of the wrestling program he and Francis MacDonald helped start.

In 1969, he was named "Outstanding Young Educator" by the Sandpoint Jaycees, and was named "teacher of the year" seven times.

In 1979, Chuck went to work in Alaska building the pipeline. Three years later, he went to work for Boeing working on the minuteman missiles, which took him to Cheyenne, Wyo., and Ogden, Utah. He then moved to Everett, Wash., where he worked as an inspector on the flight line in the airplane division. In 1999, he retired and moved back to Sandpoint.

Chuck is a member of the First Lutheran Church, Golden Spike Elks Lodge No. 719 in Roy, UT, Lakeside Lodge No. 42 A.F. & A.M., Moyie Shrine Club, North Idaho Shrine Clowns, Scottish Rite, and Sons of Norway. He also served as equipment manager for the Bulldog football team, cooked hot dogs and hamburgers at the football and basketball concession stand, and dressed up as "Ole" the hobo clown to entertain sick children in area hospitals. Chuck enjoyed spending time with his family, helping children, camping, watching baseball and football on TV, and especially ice fishing with friend Swede Hansen.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Anita Schoonover of Sandpoint; a son, Charles A. (Debbie) Schoonover of Sandpoint; a daughter, Christy (Dave) Arnot of Everett, Wash.; a grandson, Christopher A. (Crystal) Schoonover of Sandpoint; a granddaughter, Lindsay Ann Schoonover of Coeur d'Alene; three sisters-in-law, Marilla Kemmis of Sandpoint, Frances Crandall of Sandpoint and Janet Duncan of Spokane, Wash.; seven nieces and nephews, Sandy Dawson of Denver, Colo., Roley Schoonover of Sandpoint, Bobby Schoonover of Edmonds, Wash., Jacque Rowlley of Meridian, Idaho, Cathy Gregory of Nampa, Idaho, Barry Crandall of Meridian, and Jerry Duncan of Spokane; several cousins, Midy (Gary) Gross, Leslie (Jim) Kniss, Kelly (Katie) Danielson and Grace (Mel) Carter.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Robert and Warren; and a grandson, Charles Schoonover.

Memorial donations may be made to the Shriner's Hospital "Sneaker Fund", PO Box 704, Sandpoint, ID 83864, to aid child burn victims.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Chuck's memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his online guest book.