Sydney Allard Oakland, 100

Sydney Allard Oakland was born Jan. 4, 1924, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to Sydney and Gladys Oakland. When he was still quite young, he moved with his family to Lewiston, Idaho, where his father worked for Potlatch Forest, Inc., at the pulp mill.

Syd was very active in Boy Scouts and, at one time, was the youngest Eagle Scout in the United States, at 12 years old in 1936. Syd was always fascinated by flying, and learned to fly by hanging around the small airport in Lewiston.

He joined the Navy for World War II, and taught flying and swimming while he was enlisted. After the war, he and his brother Ted owned and operated a small airfield called Zimmerlies, teaching flying and performing “bush pilot” tasks: flying folks into remote fishing and hunting camps, delivering supplies to people who lived remotely, and occasionally scattering cremains over the forests and lakes, as requested by the families of the deceased. 

Syd married Helen Haas in Lewiston after the war. Syd was then hired on by American Airlines, and they were transferred to New York City (a big change from Lewiston, Idaho!) They went on to have one daughter. Many years later, Helen and Syd divorced, and Sydney married Jan Mecklavage, who had three children from her previous marriage: Karen, Kathy and Lenny. They moved to Menlo Park, Calif.

When Syd retired from American Airlines in 1986, they moved to Sagle, Idaho, and lived for many years on Lake Pend Oreille. Eventually they moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, and years later, following Jan’s stroke, to The Bridge Assisted Living facility.

Sydney is survived by his daughter and stepchildren; and his nephews, Mike, Doug, Kenneth Oakland and George Haas. 

Family and friends are invited to sign Syd’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.