Russ Hoepfer

Russ Hoepfer left this world on August 5, 2021. He was the oldest son of Gerald and Joan Hoepfer. Russ was born on September 22, 1953 at Travis Air Force Base close to Sacramento, California. When Russ was young, the family moved to Priest River, Idaho. During his life in Priest River, he excelled in academics and especially in sports. Russ broke many of Priest River High School’s track records and was an excellent player in baseball, basketball and football. After high school, Russ joined the Air Force and was stationed at Warren AFB near Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1975. He worked in the Quality Control division maintaining nuclear warheads in Wyoming, Nebraska and South Dakota. In 1977, Russ married Paula Woods and together they had two daughters, Suzanne Kay and Sheila Ann. After serving his term for our country in 1979, Russ moved his family back to Priest River where he worked at Stimpson Lumber until his retirement. In 1991 he married Chris Hoisington and they had a long and happy marriage. Russ enjoyed the outdoors! He loved fishing, hunting, getting firewood and most of all picking huckleberries! Russ provided gallons and gallons of them to many people in the area. The mountains were a place where Russ’s soul was nurtured and he loved being there most. Russ also had many hobbies including beer can collecting, model trains, he could build anything and he was a master gardener. Russ is preceded in death by his parents, Jerry and Joan. He is survived by his wife, Chris, and his three brothers, Duane, Dan and Robert. He is also survived by his children, Damon (Misty) Geary, Suzi (Darren) Stranahan, Sheila (Adam Darrington) Blanchette and his step-children Jeremy Dodd (Shawnalyn), Heather Dodd (Jared Riggs) and Richard Dilley (Tamara Cork). He has many grandchildren, nieces and nephews. A celebration of life gathering will be held for the family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, go to the mountains and pick some huckleberries. He would love that the best…