Cornelies "Cornie" Poelstra

Cornelies “Cornie” Poelstra, 87, passed away in Sandpoint, ID on Monday, June 22, 2009. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 PM Friday, June 26th, in Coffelt’s Funeral Chapel. Glen Marks will officiate and interment will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Park. Calling hours, for family and friends, will be Thursday afternoon from 12 noon until 6:00 PM at Coffelt Funeral Service. Cornie was born in New Holland, South Dakota on July 24, 1921, the son of Elmer and Lena Poelstra. He lived in Manhattan, Montana and worked on a cattle ranch. On March 15, 1944 he married Frances Mize in Belgrade, Montana. In 1945 he moved to the Selle area and purchased the Charles Selle Homestead. He established a Grade A dairy farm, retiring from Poelstra and Sons Dairy in 2002. He established, and operated, Cornies Feed, selling Purina Products, from 1966 until 1986. Cornie was well known for water witching wells in Northern Idaho. His wife Frances preceded him in death in 1988. Cornie was a member of the Sandpoint Gun Club and the Sandpoint bowling leagues. He was a 4-H leader and a poultry judge at county fairs in North Idaho. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a faithful Seattle Mariners Baseball fan. He married Edith Frazier on July 20, 1989 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He is survived by his wife Edith Poelstra of Sandpoint, ID; seven children Randy (and Carla) Poelstra in Sandpoint, ID; Tony (and Tamara) Poelstra in Coeur d’Alene, ID; Diana Johnson in Brier, WA; Patricia (and Terry) Eller in Spokane, WA; Carol McCoy in Bonners Ferry, ID; Norma McKitrick in Sandpoint, ID; Marie Johnson in Coeur d’Alene, ID; 19 grandchildren and 22 great grand children. Also surviving are two brothers Renald and Arie Poelstra both in Sandpoint, ID; three sisters Toni Tiffany in Sandpoint, ID; Edna Johnson in Lewiston, ID; Ellena Brown in Sandpoint, ID; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; three step children Vickie Sennett in Seattle, WA; Gayle Vinion in Otis Orchards, WA; and Julie Davidson in Sandpoint, ID. He was also preceded in death by his parents and a brother John.