William Stanley Van Valkinburgh

William Stanley “Bill” Van Valkinburgh, of Post Falls, Idaho, passed on to Heaven at home on January 6, 2026 at the age of 69, surrounded by his family. 

Bill was born August 17,1956 in Rupert, Idaho to William Franklin “Bill” Van Valkinburgh and Anna Marie “Annie” (Moser) Van Valkinburgh. 

Bill spent his younger years in St. Maries, Idaho, until his parents moved the family to Fairbanks and then Eagle River, Alaska where he graduated Chugiak High School in 1974. 

On April 3,1976, Bill married his teenage sweetheart, Kimberley Anne Trow, at the United Protestant Church in Palmer, Alaska. They then moved to Anchorage, where their first child, Heather, was born in 1978. Bill and Kim decided that Idaho was where they wanted to raise their family and moved from Anchorage to Coeur d’Alene in 1979. In 1981, their second child, Christopher, was born. That same year, they purchased the family home where they raised their children, lived, loved, and flourished until he passed. Bill had always teased Kim that once they found a home, she’d bury her feet, and that’s where they’d stay planted. 

Bill worked at a few automotive and industrial supply outlets in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, including Airport Machinery and Bracks Supply. Through the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, Bill and Kim owned and operated Sure Fire Protection, where he installed and cleaned fire suppression systems and various restaurant equipment, and serviced first aid supply stations and fire extinguishers, while Kim worked and ran the office. Bill always said that he went from one boss to over 250 bosses. Bill’s work ethic was second to none, and every client he had got his absolute best. After a decade of owning and growing their own business, Bill and Kim decided to sell. Bill briefly went back to his automotive roots and went to work at Banner Auto Supply for his good friends, George and Noella. His next adventure was working for Goodrich Collins Aerospace, where he worked for 20 years until his retirement. 

Bill had numerous creative outlets and hobbies. He enjoyed handcrafting knives, from grinding steel blades until they were just right to shaping beautiful handles made from elk and deer antlers, and all kinds of different woods. Each knife also had its own custom leather sheath, which he cut, stitched, and dyed by hand. He was proud to give them as gifts. Ever the handyman, Bill was ready to take on any task or project, from remodeling a bathroom to building an entire garage, as well as car repairs for anyone who needed his help. Bill had a drive to do work that would stand the test of time. There was no challenge he wouldn’t take on. 

Bill loved to hunt and fish, and be in the woods with all that nature brought. He took the family on many drives in the mountains to explore the highest peaks in our area and the beautiful rivers and lakes Idaho has to offer. 

Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Kimmie, as well as his daughter, Heather; his son, Chris, and daughter-in-law, Kandi; his granddaughters, Samantha and Daisy; his grandsons, Dylan and Alex; siblings, Jerri and Wally Groll, Michelle Millard, Cathy and Rod Herrin, and Lucy and Peter Fountain; as well as many cherished cousins, nieces, and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Annie Van Valkinburgh, and his grandparents, Leslie and Milldred Van Valkinburgh, and Alfred and Otillia Moser. 

Bill will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, a loving and supportive father and grandfather, a quiet and faithful servant, quick witted and full of sarcasm, always a prankster, notorious for snapping chips and crackers from fingertips, crushing full soda cans mid-drink, and the instigator of balled up wrapping paper wars at celebrations. His legacy will live on in the countless lives he has touched, the traditions he has passed down, and the laughter and hijinks he shared so freely with those he loved. 

Join us in celebrating a life well lived at Bell Tower Funeral Home on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 11am. A reception is to immediately follow.