Kootenai County ID Archives Obituaries.....Lundeen Sr., Wilmer J. "Will" September 21, 2005 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/idfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: K T bluewolf@onemain.com September 23, 2005, 10:38 pm Coeur d'Alene Press - The Daily Bee Will Lundeen Sr., 73 Wilmer J. (Will) Lundeen Sr., 73, entered into rest Sept. 21, 2005, at Deaconess Medical Center, Spokane, following an extended illness. Will was preceded in death by his patents, Walter and Julia Lundeen, and an infant sister, Joyce. He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Carol, of Naples, Texas, and Post Falls; and sons James Lundeen, Naples, Texas, Wilmer Lundeen Jr., and wife Doris, Post Falls; daughter Loayne Isbell and husband Joel, Rathdrum; three grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren. Will is also survived by his sister, Shirley Herber, Minneapolis; brother Larry Lundeen, Marietta, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews. Born June 8, 1932, on the family farm in Pennington County, Minn., to Walter and Julia (Mathison) Lundeen, he attended local schools in Grand Forks, N.D. Will served in the Korean Conflict from 1952 to 1954. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was a member of Post 9831 in Hayden. Following his return from Korea, Will married his sweetheart, Carol Strassburg, at Crookston, Minn., on March 15, 1954. As newly weds, Will and Carol moved from North Dakota to El Monte, Calif., where Will worked briefly in manufacturing, before returning to North Dakota in 1955. He worked for American Bottling Company in Grand Forks for several years, before once again moving with his family to California, where he worked on a cattle ranch near Saugus. While in California, Will and Carol heard of Coeur d'Alene from friends. Inspired by photographs they had seen of the area, Will and Carol moved with their young family to Coeur d'Alene in 1969. Shortly after, the family moved to Farmington, Wash., where Will worked for Harold Pfaff of Pfaff Brothers, Inc., a large dry-land wheat farm in Whitman County. Farming was always Will's greatest love. While in Whitman County, he also began working for Ron Johnson and Lyle Bruce, who raised certified seed potatoes in Farmington. Will began raising a few acres of potatoes on his own, at that time. In 1975, Will and Carol moved to Coeur d'Alene and then Post Falls. Will continued to raise potatoes in Post Falls, and then became foreman for Lyle Bruce Farms, a seed potato operation in Post Falls. In addition to his work in potato farming, Will also established Lundeen Farms in Post Falls and successfully operated a nursery and garden store for a number of years. He built custom utility trailers and ran a reader-board sign business from the garden store as well. In 1991, Will and Carol moved to Naples, Texas, but have continued to return to Post Falls every year to work during potato sorting and harvest. Will enjoyed a special relationship with his grandchildren and great- grandchildren, who loved to spend time with him. Will passed along many skills to his grandchildren and instilled in them his belief in a strong work ethic. In his spare time, Will enjoyed rodeos and auctions. He and Carol loved participating in swap meets and over the years made many lasting friendships in several states. Will leaves behind a loving and devoted family and a large circle of friends who will always remember him for his loyalty, hard work, and the special way he wore his hat. Viewing will be 9-10:30 a.m. before the 11 a.m. service for Will on Sept. 26, both at English Funeral Chapel, Post Falls, which is in charge of arrangements. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to donor's charity of choice. Please sign Will's guest registry and view his online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com. Additional Comments: Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho <> Volunteer submission - No relation to the deceased. 23 September 2005 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/id/kootenai/obits/l/lundeens860gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/idfiles/ File size: 4.4 Kb