Peter David Heraper, M.D., 87
Peter David Heraper was born Nov. 3, 1935, to Joseph Clifford and Helen Estelle Heraper in Detroit, Mich.
Peter grew up in Ferndale, Mich. He received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Michigan. He met Judith Elaine Tudor at the University of Michigan, whom he married in 1956. He always said, “She was the best thing that ever happened to me,” and he supported her in her musical endeavors.
Their son, David Arthur, was born in 1957. In 1958, Pete was accepted into medical school at Wayne State University in Detroit. He earned his MD in 1962 and then did an internship at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, Mich., where daughter Linda Sue was born.
In 1963, he began a four-year program in otorhinolaryngology, or ENT, at New York University in Manhattan. Just before his last year, he was drafted and became a captain in the Air Force at Langley AFB in Virginia. He finished his ENT training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio. He also went to flight training school there and became a flight surgeon.
After he finished his ENT training, he was a major at Fairchild AFB; from there he was sent to Bitburg AFB in Germany, where he enjoyed hunting with the Germans and singing with Judy in the Trier Bach Choir as the only American choir members. He and Judy made many friends there, having taken spoken German classes. Pete also loved flying and as a flight surgeon, was able to fly in F4s.
After six years in Germany, Pete returned to Spokane and Fairchild AFB as a lieutenant colonel. After 11 years in the Air Force, the family moved to Sandpoint, where he established an ENT practice.
Because of his son’s interest in the sport, Pete went to a coaching clinic for soccer. He began coaching soccer in 1980, and with Mike Read, he started the Strikers and arranged to have games all over Idaho, Washington and Canada. Then Pete went to England and completed a referee’s course. He enjoyed officiating matches as well as coaching.
Peter's connection with Alaska was fortuitous. It began when a grandmother brought her grandson to his ENT clinic from Ketchikan, Alaska, seeking his expertise. Impressed by his work, she invited him to Ketchikan to conduct a clinic. This visit sparked his love for Alaska, and he soon acquired a Cessna 185 with floats, using it to visit patients in Wrangel, Petersburg and Prince of Wales Island.
He loved to hunt, coach and referee soccer, play duplicate bridge, and fly his plane.
He was preceded in death by his mom and dad, sister Judy, and brother Jerry. He leaves his wife, Judy; son, Dave (Sue); daughter, Linda (Kyle); grandchildren, Steven (Katie), Greg (Mevina), Brittney (Dave), Michelle (Caina), Lizzie (Bach), Alicia (Alex) and Ally; and seven great-grandchildren.
A service and celebration will be held at the United Methodist Church in Sandpoint on Oct. 18 at 11 a.m.
Family and friends are invited to sign Peter’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.
Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.