Donald Kotschevar, 93

Donald Kotschevar, 93, peacefully passed away at his home in Sandpoint, Idaho, on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2005, with his wife and four children at his side.

The Vigil Rosary service will be at 8 p.m., Monday, Aug. 15, 2005, in Coffelt's Moon Chapel.

The mass of Christian burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2005, in St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Sandpoint. Interment will be in Pinecrest Memorial Park. The Rev. Dennis C. Day, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, will officiate.

Friends may call on Monday afternoon until 6 p.m. at Coffelt's Moon Chapel.

Donald was born in Noonan, N.D., on Aug. 6, 1912, the son of Henry and Anna Kotschevar.

He graduated from high school in Dunseith, N.D., in 1932.

In 1937, he received both his geology and mining engineering degrees from the University of Washington. After his graduation, he worked as a mine foreman in Malaysia in a tin mine.

Following the outbreak of World War II, he returned to Seattle and worked for Boeing Aircraft. He moved to Sandpoint and, in 1947, painted the wooden long bridge, with his brother, Russ.

On July 15, 1952, he married Nina Hernvall in Sandpoint. Don and Nina celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary last month.

He continued living in Sandpoint, working as a mining engineer and working for his brother Russ at the Kamloops.

He also worked for the Conjecture Mine in Bayview, later moving to Bellevue, Idaho, and working as an assayer in the mines near Hailey. He returned to Sandpoint in 1964.

He enjoyed outdoor activities, raising a large garden and sharing his produce with family and friends.

Don was an avid hunter and fisherman and, for 23 years, he held the Idaho state record for the brook trout he caught in MacArthur Reservoir.

In 1999, at the age of 87, he shot his first moose. At the age of 91, Don still loved to duck hunt with his son, Don.

Don was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, the Knights of Pythias, and BPOE No. 1376. He held a commercial fishing license, was a member of the Kamloop Club, the Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club and the 25-pound Kamloop Club.

He is survived by his wife, Nina Kotschevar of Sandpoint; four children, Kris (Jack) Collison of Cornelius, Ore., Kathy (Randy) James of Sandpoint, Patty (David) Hurford of Creston, British Columbia, Canada, and Don (Gizelle) Kotschevar of Mullan, Idaho; 13 grandchildren; and a brother, Lendal Kotschevar of Madison, Wis.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Russ and Louie; and a sister, Lucille.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.