Wallace Wickel

DECLO – Wallace Wickel, age 90, of Declo and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013, at the Cassia Regional Medical Center in Burley.

Wallace was born on Sept. 23, 1923, in Elba, Idaho, the son of Louis and Eva Winders Wickel. He graduated from Malta High School in 1942, and complete his college education at North Idaho College. He married Carma June Asher on June 9, 1942, and together, they had three daughters, Dixie, Connie and Delilah. They divorced in 1959. On Christmas Day, 1959, he married Patricia Engle in Couer d’ Alene, Idaho, and they enjoyed 50 years of marriage until Patty’s death on Jan. 26, 2010.

He served in the United States Army for more than 20 years and was a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was a medic (specializing in x-ray technology) and upon his honorable discharge, held the rank of Master Sergeant.

In his younger years, Wallace worked as a sheep tender and ranch hand. He later worked at the sugar factory, in the medical field, as an Army recruiter, and restaurant owner. He and his wife, Patty, owned and operated the Wolf Lodge Inn Steakhouse in Couer d’Alene for 24 years. The restaurant began serving burgers and chicken and over the years expanded to be a renowned steakhouse and seafood restaurant and earned several awards and is listed in the Good Food Book. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, stone masonry, and traveling.

Wallace is survived by his children, Dixie (Bill) Estes of Declo, Carlton (Judy) Williams of Spalding, England, Connie (Michael) Bryan of Heyburn, and Delilah Reed of Declo; 16 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; 21 great-great-grandchildren (with two more soon to be born); and his siblings, Audrey Heyne of Burley, Loretta Adams of Gooding, and Harvey Wickel of Elba.

In addition to his wife, Patty, he was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Eva Arbon and Louise Winett; one brother, Lamon Wickel; and a great-grandson, Wyatt Rodgers.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, where friends and family may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Saturday prior to the service. Burial will be in the Grand View Cemetery in Elba.