Emil Nejdl

Emil Nejdl

Emil Nejdl passed away peacefully in his sleep on Oct. 28, 2011, at a Boise care center. He was born on April 9, 1924, in Friend, Neb., to Louis Nejdl and Mary Kotel. Emil faced many hardships in his formative years during The Great Depression.

His education was interrupted with WWII and Emil enlisted in the Navy. He was a heavy equipment Operator in the Seabees, putting down landing strips for a landing field in Guam. Emil served two hitches in the Navy in all the 36 months of his duty. He was stationed in Guam, Alaska, and the Aleutian Islands. After the war, he returned to Nebraska and then decided to venture to Idaho.

Emil was interested in farming, but instead joined the police force in Jerome, Idaho. While a policeman, Emil became interested in sanitation and landfills. He started a company in Orofino, Idaho. Later, he bid on and won sanitation contracts with Mountain Home Air Force Base and the City of Mountain Home.

Emil married the love of his life, Lois L. Plummer, on April 5, 1986. They made their home in Mountain Home, Idaho, until moving to a home on the Snake River in Hammett, Idaho. They owned a restaurant in Hammett and while there had more than one adventure with their pontoon boat on the river.

When Emil was semi-retired, they traveled in their motor home to Yuma, Ariz., for the winter and later on to Baja. They met many friends traveling and decided to join the Good Sam Motor Home Club. Their adventures took them to Connecticut, Rhode Island and a favorite place, the Oregon Coast. They also enjoyed traveling to Washington, Coeur dıAlene and Orofino to visit their children.

Emil and Lois met at a dance. After they married, dancing remained one of their favorite activities. A highlight of their travels was dancing across the Caribbean on the S.S. Norway cruise ship.

Due to Emil's declining health, they moved to Boise in 2003 to be closer to family, doctors and the V.A. Still not content to sit at home they would take the motor home to Running Bear near Anderson Ranch Dam where they fished, danced and contemplated singing Karaoke.

Emil is survived by his wife, Lois, of 25 years, daughter Leila (Steve) Crockett of Orofino, Idaho, two stepdaughters, Connie (Roger) Kiblinger of Eatonville, Wash., and Patricia Sexton of Boise, Idaho, for whom Emil was a beloved father, two stepsons, Steve Plummer of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Brad (Cathy) Rumsey of Fairfield, Idaho, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A stepson, Ron Fager, preceded him in death.

Donations can be made to The Idaho Humane Society.

A memorial service was set for 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3, at Relyea Funeral Chapel, located at 318 N. Latah in Boise. Inurnment will follow at 1 p.m. at the Veterans Cemetery, located at 10100 N. Horseshoe Bend Rd., in Boise.

Any tributes, condolences and flower orders can be left at www.relyeafuneralchapel.com.