Harold Harry Eckhart

October 27, 1937-March 15th, 2025

Our beloved husband, father, grandpa, and great grandpa, Harold H. Eckhart departed this life peacefully at his home in Post Falls, Idaho on 15 March 2025. He reached the age 87 and was the last of his generation. He was the youngest of four, born on 27 October 1937 to Harry Henry Eckhart and Adelia Anna Lange in Chokio, Minnesota. He married Irene D. Clark on 10 Nov 1978 which now combined his 3 sons and an adopted daughter and her son and 3 daughters. Upon his passing he was blessed with 22 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren.

Harold claimed that his childhood town of Chokio was just like “Little House on the Prairie”. He left the farm at age 17 to enlist in the MN National Guard before joining the US Navy in Feb 1955. He went to basic training in Great Lakes, IL, and was designated as a Radioman where he learned Morse Code. He referred to himself as a “dit chaser”. He spent time on the USS Mississippi out of Norfolk, VA, USS Columbus out of Boston, MA, and time on the west coast near Long Beach, CA and at US Naval Air Station Miramar, CA. He left the Navy in 1958 as a RM3 with four years of honorable service. After the military, he moved around between WA, ID, and MN working various jobs, Boeing in Seattle and Murphy Motor Freight in St. Paul come to mind. In 1960, Harold settled in Lewiston, ID. He began working for Potlatch Corporation, the local pulp and papermill, now known as Clearwater Paper. He began working on the wood side and moved to the pulp side in the 70s as an Oiler on the Maintenance Crew. He retired in 1996 after 36 years. In 1993, Harold and Irene moved to Grangemont above Orofino into their Cabin, which they began building in 1988. They commuted to Lewiston for several years after that for both his and Irene’s work. Desiring to move closer to kids and grandkids, they sold their property with the cabin and moved to their final home in Post Falls, ID on 9/11/2001. With Harold’s woodworking passion and Irene’s bookkeeping skills they started H&I Woodcrafts in 2002, where they built birdhouses, planters, and wood products to fill their time in retirement. They cherished their weekends selling at the Kootenai County Farmers’ Market as long-time members and at craft shows until the fall of 2022.

Harold’s love for the outdoors included: camping, woodcutting, riding four-wheelers and snowmobiles, boating, hunting and fishing, especially for steelhead on the Clearwater and Snake Rivers. He loved his dogs; Fifi a grey poodle he had for 18 yrs, Coco a chocolate lab for 7 yrs, and Daisy Mae a pug for 10+ yrs. He was a member of the Moose Lodge in Clarkston, WA. Harold was an avid bowler and a member of the American Bowling Association and local leagues for years in Lewiston, Clarkston, Orofino, and Post Falls. He was very involved with the Boy Scouts of America and was a Cubmaster for about 5 years and a Scoutmaster for about 3 years in Lewiston. He loved to travel via Betsy, his beloved green 1980 Ford Truck which he bought off the showroom floor and is still running today, or the Motorhomes to visit the Oregon Coast and spend time visiting the family at home and all over the country.

He is survived by his loving wife of forty-six years, Irene D. Eckhart of Post Falls, ID; three sons Timothy A. Eckhart, Sr. of Coeur d’ Alene, Byron J. Clark of Willits, CA, and Robert S. Eckhart and wife, Colleen Laford-Eckhart of Post Falls; three daughters: Kay L. Morris and husband, John P. Morris, Sr. of Quitman, TX, Donnell Tish Barnes and husband, Eddie Barnes of Hoquiam, WA, and Tanya L. Hildebrand and husband and Harold’s buddy, Randy L. Hildebrand of Post Falls, ID; and three nephews: Lee Micheal Kjeldahl, Larry and Terry Eckhart; and so many family members and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents: Harry Henry and Adelia Mae Eckhart; three siblings: Walter Allen Eckhart, Clayton Richard Eckhart, and Lois Mae Kjeldahl; and son, William Harold Eckhart.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be held at 2pm on Sat, Apr 26 at English Funeral Chapel, 1700 N Spokane St, Post Falls, ID, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Newby Ginnings of Post Falls, https://newbyginnings.networkforgood.com/projects/19637-common-comforts. It is a non-profit organization that was so kind and generously provided needed items to help support Harold in the last few years, as they do for all who have served and sacrificed to support our country.

Thank you so much to all who have helped Irene care for Harold in his final years, your compassion and love were greatly appreciated. Special thanks to Cassandra Keller, Danya ‘Dee’ Masterson, and Brooklyn Mathis from Serengeti; Jennifer Plummer, Shannon West, Nicole Donaldson, Mitzi Platts, Jayme, and Christina from Eden; Megan Reeb & Marci from Costco Hearing; Dr. M. Ford, Caitlyn Shino, Dr. T. Buckland, Janet Zierer, Dr. S. Manek, and Dr. C. Sukut; and all of our friends and family.

Pease sign his guestbook and the family would love you to share a story or a picture.