George E. Samsel

4/20/1931 — 3/23/2018

Service Date: 4/28/2018
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George Eugene Samsel, 86, passed into his heavenly home Friday, March 23, 2018, while a resident at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Lewiston. He was a lifetime resident of Idaho.

He was born to Lawrence and Lilas (Mitchell) Samsel on April 20, 1931, north of

Nezperce on the K.G. Oosterhaut Ranch. He joined one brother, Harold, and five sisters, Agnes (Izatt), Doris (Clovis), Gladys (Crane), Lois (Boxleitner) and Veta (Patton). After a short time on the ranch, the Samsel family moved to Kamiah for a few years. Next, the family located to Winchester, where George attended his 12 years of schooling.

In 1951, George joined the U.S. Air Force. He signed up for gunnery school during the Korean conflict, but the obsolete B-29 was being replaced by the B-47 so gunnery school was no longer an option. His second choice was photo interpretation and radar prediction, and he attended schooling in Colorado and Louisiana. He received an honorable discharge in 1955 and returned to "God's Country," Idaho.

He held various jobs before settling upon his career in construction, and later became a Lewiston-Clarkston Valley Realtor. He was active with the Lewis-Clark American Legion Post 13, Lewiston, all his adult life and held every office except commander, which he declined since he didn't operate computers.

George and Darlene "Dolly" Uglem were married Sept. 1, 1956. This marriage ended in divorce.

George is survived by his daughter, Cheryl, and her husband, Joe Tucker; grandson Joe "J.W." and his wife, Vanessa Tucker; granddaughter Christina "Crissy" and her husband, Mike Hobbs; great-grandchildren Wyatt and Cora Hobbs; brother Harold Samsel and his wife, Alma; sister Lois Boxleitner; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members.

George, with the help of God and Alcoholics Anonymous, overcame alcoholism. He sponsored many other people on their walk to sobriety. He placed a great importance upon family, friends, country and yard and garden work at the site where he lived in the triplex he'd built. His joking, rich laughter and twinkling eyes will be greatly missed on this Earth.

George's family would like to extend a hearty thank you to all the veterans home staff who provided George with loving care since his fall in October 2017. Condolences may be sent to www.vassar-rawls.com/obituaries. Suggested sites for memorial contributions are to the Idaho State Veterans Home, 821 21st Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501; or to Lewis Clark American Legion Post 13, P.O. Box 683, Lewiston, ID 83501; or to Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1104 Warner Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501.

A memorial service for George is scheduled for 2 p.m. April 28 at the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Lewiston.