Tracy Schoeffler

Tracy Jerome Schoeffler, 59

Tracy was born on August 30, 1955, to Franklin and Dolores Schoeffler in Moscow, Idaho. He lost his battle with bladder cancer on December 3, 2014.

Tracy joined the United States Air Force in 1974, after graduating from Moscow High School that same year. He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Burns, on April 18, 1975, two days after completing basic training.

They traveled to his military assignment with the 6511th Test Squadron in El Centro, Calif., where Tracy was a C130 Loadmaster.

Tracy earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Education in 1981 and completed his Master of Education in Industrial Technology Education in 1991, both from the University of Idaho, in Moscow.

Tracy created innovative programs and taught unique courses for 27 years. He developed technology programs in alternative vehicle development in hovercrafts and electric vehicles. Other classes included: graphics communication, CAD, digital photography, video editing and website production.

He was a class advisor, safety officer, and served on committees that collaborated with other schools. His students often won state sponsored scholarships. He incorporated hands-on education experiences for his students who rarely skipped his classes. He made the classroom both fun and a learning experience. If you were completing your work in class, you might be rewarded with listening to music (except Rap), or receive a Tootsie Pop during drafting class! At other times, you would find a whole class singing while completing projects. If you acted up in Mr. Schoeffler's class, you may have been summoned to his office which every student dreaded; or you may have received detention and had to clean the Tech Ed shop after school. Many of his students became successful in their adult lives as a result of Tracy's influence in the classroom.

Tracy developed Technology Education programs at Banks High School, Banks, Ore., from 1981-1995. He taught Desktop Publishing and Graphics Communication at the University of Idaho Business and Technology Education departments in Moscow, from 1997-1998. He created a Technology Education Program at Wahkiakum High School in Cathlamet, Wash., from 1998-2011. He articulated courses with Portland Community College in Portland, Ore., and Lower Columbia College in Longview, Wash., for his student's to earn college credits.

He and Barbara, married for 39 years, loved traveling to the Southwest, to hike and explore Native American ruins. They remodeled their homes in Aloha, Ore. and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Tracy built a pergola for the back yard in his home shop, and loved to cook. He loved family gatherings and he is greatly loved and missed by Barbara, his whole family, including 20 nieces and nephews who fondly remember him as Uncle Duck, and many special friends, many from his high school days with Barbara.

Tracy leaves behind his wife, Barbara Schoeffler, in Coeur d'Alene, five siblings including Charles Schoeffler, Celia Flinn, and Mary (Terry) Schierman of Moscow, Susie Jeffries (Mo) of Tillamook, Oregon, and Carol Westacott (John) of Idaho Falls.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Franklin and Dolores Schoeffler; special aunts and uncles; and a niece.

A Celebration of Life will be held April 18, 2015, at Schierman's Event Center, 2-5 p.m. in Moscow.

In Tracy's honor, the Tracy Schoeffler Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established at Lower Columbia College, where Barbara was employed for many years. The scholarship will benefit students who wish to continue in vocational college programs at LCC, with first preference going to a Wahkiakum High School student. A donation may be mailed to the LCC Foundation, PO Box 3010, Longview, WA 98632. For more information go to http://www.lowercolumbia.edu/foundation, or to use a credit card, call 360-442-2130.

Cremation has taken place under the direction of Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d'Alene.

- Paid Obituary -