Hans W. Sluder, 74, Lewiston

Hans W. Sluder went home to be with his Lord on Sunday, April 6, 2008, from lung cancer and emphysema.

He was born Oct. 30, 1933, in Grady, N.M., to his parents, John and Myrtle Carpenter Sluder.

Hans took pride in being a drywaller for the past 45 years. He left mud tracks from Texas to Alaska and all points in between. Hans loved the rodeo and almost always had a horse somewhere in his life. He served our country in the United States Navy during the Korean War. He also served in Guam and Japan and was discharged in 1960.

He learned to hunt and fish from his Dad when he was little. It became one of the many things that brought him joy throughout his life. He enjoyed boxing from the time he was 12 and while in the Navy he became the All-Navy welterweight champion for the Far East. Hans loved God's creation and found himself as at home by a campfire in the woods as anywhere.

Hans met the love of his life, Patricia (Pat), at the age of 16. In 1983 he married her ... truly a gift from God. Hans was blessed to have a wonderful church family and over these past years has grown to love and be loved by so many at Tammany View church.

Hans is survived by his wife, Pat; brothers, Joe of Fountain, Colo., Kenneth of Canon City, Colo., and Don of Security, Colo.; two daughters, Sandra Bottjer of Spokane and Terry Vogel of Gainesville, Texas; one stepdaughter, Gale Kline of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and three grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, J.C.; two sisters, Estelle Dicks and Loretta Kohle; and one stepson, Danny Phillips.

Hans touched many lives while he was with us and will be missed so very much, but now we know that he is breathing easy. All pain is gone and he is mobile once again in his new home in heaven.

We will celebrate Hans' life and the unshakable hope he held in Christ Jesus in a memorial service at 11 a.m. April 29 at Tammany View Baptist Church in Lewiston. Services will be conducted by his pastor and hunting buddy, Tim Palmer. There will be a dinner to follow.