Alfred Joe Eberhardt

Alfred Joe (Al) Eberhardt, 76, was born the first of five children on March 24, 1942, in Lewiston, to Bernard Joseph and D’Alice May Hollingsworth Eberhardt. He left his earthly body on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, at his home in Bonners Ferry from heart failure related to esophageal cancer. He went to join his parents and sister Marjorie Lunders in heaven. He was raised on the family ranch near Lenore, Idaho. He learned a hard-work ethic there from his mother and father; milking cows, haying, harvesting, gardening, and all of the other farm chores. Al carried this work ethic into his entire life and it served him well. In his early years he did his best to keep the ground squirrel, grouse, and deer populations under control. He attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse and graduated from Lapwai High School in 1960.  In 1962 he began what would become his 35-year career in the automatic fire sprinkler industry. Al was a proud member of Sprinkler Fitters Local 669 as an apprentice, journeyman fitter, and estimator. His work took him from Idaho to Montana, Alaska, and Washington.   Al married Marsha on Oct. 6, 1995, in Coeur d’Alene. He retired in 1997 and they moved to Bonners Ferry in 1998 where he enjoyed life as an avid hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman. He especially liked fishing at Pend Oreille Lake and Kootenay Lake in Canada with trophy fish to prove his success. Adopting and raising Falen and Joziah from infancy, during his retirement, is a testament to what a special man he was. He was happiest on the lake or in the woods with his family. Al enjoyed wood working, motorcycles, boating, and driving his 1951 Willys Jeep. His most enjoyable moments were taking his children and grandchildren fishing, hunting, and traveling to previously unexplored places. Al leaves behind his wife Marsha and sons Falen and Joziah at their home in Bonners Ferry; children Sheila Aranda, Shuree Nichols (Lance), Brad Eberhardt (Shannon) all of Spokane, Kara Nelson (Jeremy) of Bonners Ferry; along with four stepchildren, 11 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, brother-in-law Keith Lunders of Troy, sisters Elnora Kreisher (Jim) of Moscow and Fern Oliver of Pendleton Oregon, brother Roger Eberhardt (Patricia) of Juliaetta; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to express our sincere appreciation for the care given to Al by Auburn Crest Hospice. Please join us for a celebration of life luncheon at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 30, 2019, at the Lewiston Elks Lodge, 3444 Country Club Drive. Online condolences and memories about Al may be left at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com.