Aug. 7, 1923 - Sept. 14, 2008

Samuel W. Koontz Jr., 85, of Lebanon died Sunday at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital.

Samuel was born in Albany, the son of Samuel and Altha (Misner) Koontz. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Sam married Thieda Waltenburg on Feb. 23, 1968, in Vancouver, Wash. The couple remarried in the Methodist Church in Lebanon on April 19, 1968. They lived their married lives in Lebanon, where they raised their family. Sam worked for Southern Pacific Railroad as a conductor for over 38 years.

When Sam was not working for Southern Pacific he was always busy with any one of his many hobbies. He loved to hunt and fish, as well as trap in the winter months. He was happiest when his wife and children were with him during those times.

He built furniture and made many things for his home. When in high school, he built a chest of drawers as a school project. He also made burl clocks, coffee tables, sconces and pen sets, which he would sell during Christmas bazaars. He invented 3-D pictures of elk, deer, mountain goats, dahl sheep, ducks and geese made from wood of different colors. They were very popular, and so far nobody has duplicated them.

Some of his favorite times were when he would take his family on motorcycle trips to Snow Peak for a day of fun. He loved taking the trailer or motor home to Lomolo Lake to fish in the summer. He raised and trained black labs and was a member of the Willamette Valley Retriever Club. He also built his own speed boat with which he won many trophies.

Sam is survived by his wife, Thieda of Lebanon; sons Steve Koontz of Tillamook, Dwayne and wife Sharon Waltenburg of Salem, Nick and wife Jackie Waltenburg of Lebanon and Rob Koontz of Lebanon; daughter Jalayne Koontz of Turner; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved very much.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Betty Elder.

A celebration of Sam's life will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Crowfoot Baptist Church.

Family requests memorial contributions be sent to the Alzheimer's Association Oregon Trail Chapter, in care of Huston-Jost Funeral Home, 86 W. Grant St., Lebanon, OR 97355 (www.hustonjost.com).