Clarence E. Seidel

Clarence was born June 9, 1929, in Ellis, Kan., the youngest of four children to Frederick and Carrie (Honas) Seidel. His parents came to the United States from Austria in the early l900s as young children through Ellis Island. They settled in Ellis, in a largely German-speaking community. His mother and father both worked for the railroad; he was a switchman and she cleaned rail cars. They moved to Pocatello in 1935, when Clarence was 5. He was the first to learn English in school. In later years, he would call his mother in Pocatello every Sunday afternoon. If she switched to German during the conversation, so would he.

Growing up in Pocatello, he was a Golden Gloves boxer, and later moved to Chicago as a professional boxer. His career was short-lived in Chicago, where he had his jaw broken in his final bout as a professional. He said he was known as "The Canvasback Kid," as he said he spent most of his time in the ring on his back. After he returned to Idaho, he worked briefly at the copper mine in Anaconda, Mont., but left to go to back to Chicago to attend the Coyne School to learn electrical wiring.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952 and served a tour in Korea. He met Darlene Hickman while home on leave. They met as their mothers worked together. They were married March 2, 1951.

He began working for Idaho Power as a lineman. He then went to work for Bonneville Power Administration. This took his growing family to Paul, Idaho, to Snohomish, Wash., and finally to Lewiston in 1972, putting in the power lines for Bonneville Power across the Lewiston Hill from Dworshak Dam. He retired from Bonneville Power in 1992.

He loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and had pet nicknames for each. He especially loved the time he could spend with family on his 20 acres on Teakan Butte near Cavendish. He was a jack of all trades, and unlike many, was a master of all. He was always there to help his family and friends. If someone had a problem, it was always: "Call Grandpa, he will know."

Clarence was a talented musician as well, and played the accordion in a country western band at the old Oasis Club in Pocatello, a place he once described as "a honky-tonk you had to fight your way into, and fight your way out of." He also was in the house band at the Paradise Club in American Falls, Idaho. His musical genes were passed on to his sons, Cody, Kelly and Randy, and he was known as the father of the Seidel Brothers Band. His daughters, Charlene, Cheryl and DeeAnn, can't carry a tune in a bucket, however.

After he retired, he and Darlene finally had time to travel and spent many happy trips with their daughter, Cheryl, and son-in-law, Joe Dickenson, traveling in their motor home to such destinations as Canada, the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore and the Oregon Coast.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Pauline; and brothers Bill and Paul.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Darlene; and his children, Charlene (Jim) Collier, Cody (Cindy) Seidel, Kelly Seidel, Jan Webb, Cheryl (Joe) Dickenson, Randy (Nancy) Seidel and DeeAnn (Gary) Eberhardt. He is also survived by his beloved 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. We will all miss you, Dad.

Clarence was a devout communicant of All Saints Catholic Church. A rosary will be said at 10 a.m. Thursday at the church, 3330 14th St., Lewiston, followed by a funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the All Saints Building Fund or the Alzheimer's Society.