Obituary of Chuck Triphahn

On June 13th 2021 Charles (Chuck) Triphahn passed away as a result of complications of a miraculous 10 year battle with brain cancer. Born in Chicago on April 15 1945, Chuck was one of the two children of Eleanor Triphahn and Charles Triphahn. After many happy years of courting, Chuck married his high-school-sweetheart, Patricia Holish, August 31, 1968. Chuck studied and got both his bachelor of science in forestry and masters degree in wood science at Michigan Technical university where he sometimes had dinner if he could catch it in the lake. He started his career in Arkansas at International Paper then later moved to Lewiston, Idaho before finding employment in 1975 with Potlatch Corporation Particle Board Plant in Post Falls, ID (now Plummer Forest Products). Chuck and Pat settled into the community and happily raised their family. In 2004, he lost the love of his life, Pat. In 2011 he was diagnosed with glioblastoma and despite the diagnosis, returned to work before eventually retiring from his R and D role at Plummer Forest Products in 2015 (though many would agree, he remained part of the company even after he retired and attended the annual Christmas party every year). Chuck found joy in sharing the lives of his children, spoiling his pets, shooting trap and bird hunting, gardening, watching Gonzaga basketball, and anything to do with trees. Chuck warmed everyone with an easy smile and we will all miss his pleasant personality. He had a kind and generous spirit and an ever-positive attitude. Chuck is preceded in death by his parents, sister (Charlene Bath), wife Pat, and son Kevin. Chuck is survived by his daughters (Sarah Triphahn, and Hannah Zajac), daughter-in-law (Laura Burgeson), son-in-law (Ryan Zajac), two grandsons (Ellison and Everett Zajac), brother-in-law and his wife Stephan and Deborah Holish. A service to celebrate Chuck’s life will be held at Bell Tower Funeral Home in Post Falls on June 18th at 1:00. In lieu of cards and flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Furry Farm Rescue (https://www.thefurryfarmrescue.org/).