Paul H. Anderson
January 17, 1942 - May 8, 2025

This storied, wooden bench is dedicated to Paul H. Anderson to honor and recognize the decades of service and accomplishments to the communities of North Idaho. He truly left things "better than he found them"
-from his family, friends, and the community.

From the CDA Press, Thursday, June 26, 2025

Legacy of Community Involvement
Area with bench, trees, plaque at McEuen Park will be dedicated to Paul Anderson

By Bill Buley, CDA Press

Paul Anderson was known for working quietly behind the scenes to get things done for the benefit of the community.

And he did a lot.

He served on foundations and nonprofit boards, helped found economic development and education organizations, and was a Rotary club president.

There is one thing he did not like: the spotlight.

“Paul was a very unassuming fellow,” said Sandy Emerson, a friend of Anderson’s. “He didn’t want to have any accolades.”

The 83-year-old Anderson, who passed away May 8, is soon to receive some of the recognition he didn’t want.

A city bench at McEuen Park, made out of a fallen maple tree at the park, is being dedicated to Anderson. “Paul’s Bench” will be flanked by a white pine tree and a dogwood tree, as well as some large rocks and shrubs. A pathway of pavers leads from the path to the bench. A plaque with a tribute to Anderson will be added later.

Anderson would have approved, Emerson said.

“The simplicity of a bench and that area to be improved with a butterfly garden, that appealed to him,” he said.

The city is working on a separate project, a butterfly garden, near the entrance to Tubbs Hill.

Tony Berns, executive director of Ignite CDA, said Anderson was a founding member of the organization when it was known as the Lake City Development Corp. and served with it from 1997 to 2007.

“Paul played a key role in the early years of the agency,” Berns said.

Anderson worked on public policy engagement with both local elected officials and state legislators, was instrumental in some of the agency’s early partnership projects, including Riverstone, Mill River, and McEuen Terrace, and was involved with partnership efforts on the Parkside Condominiums and businesses, the Kroc Center, and the Coeur d'Alene Public Library.

"A pretty impressive legacy of community involvement with tangible community benefits still felt today," Berns said.

Anderson, who had a long career with Washington Water Power, which became Avista Corp., is deserving of a place to remember him next to Lake Coeur d'Alene, which he loved, Emerson said.

Friends described him as someone "whose unwavering dedication and steadfast efforts made a lasting impact on our community.

"He always wanted to be involved in things that made our community better," Emerson said.

The project is funded through donations, which can be made at panhandleparks.org.

A celebration of Anderson's life is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on July 1 at the Hagadone Event Center.

Pictures of Paul and his family

Paul's Obituary

Paul Howard Anderson, 83, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, passed away peacefully May 8, 2025. Our beloved Paul, tender and kind, wrapped his protective and loving arms around all of us. Born on Jan. 17, 1942, in Los Angeles, Calif., Paul’s deep and abiding faith carried him through the many adversities that he faced, molding his dedication to uplifting others, strengthening families, empowering communities and building a brighter future for North Idaho. To all of us, he was a positive guy, always seeing “the glass half full” and then he would ask, “What can I do to fill that glass to the brim?” He lived his whole life with quiet strength and courage. It was that same quiet courage, calmness and faith we saw when he left us.

Paul grew up in Spokane, Wash., and graduated from the University of Montana in 1967 with a degree in economics. A proud member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, he carried the values of integrity, loyalty and service throughout his life. From an early age, Paul loved playing the piano, organ and, later, the electronic keyboard. Constantly listening, he enjoyed all genres of music, from the ballads of the big band era to jazz, blues, rock, show tunes and classical. He made spending money in college by playing the piano and lifeguarding. Paul cherished his impeccably maintained Bayliner boat, skillfully piloting it to enjoy the beauty of our lake and the night skies.

He began his professional journey with Washington Water Power, later Avista Utilities, serving communities in Spokane, Colville and St. Maries. In the early 1980s, he was transferred to Idaho’s Silver Valley during a time of great uncertainty. When the Bunker Hill Mine closed in 1981, eliminating 2,000 good-paying jobs overnight, Paul saw not just a tragedy, but a call to action. His response was bold and deeply compassionate: he helped establish Silver Valley Forever, an initiative dedicated to revitalizing the local economy — a mission that exceeded all expectations. He would later say, “That made me a believer that economic development was something I wanted to be involved in.”

Paul was a man who accomplished extraordinary things without ever thinking of himself as extraordinary.

Paul moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1984, where his sense of duty and quiet leadership continued to flourish. In 1987, recognizing the challenges facing the region, he helped found Jobs Plus, now known as the Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Agency. Today, this organization has attracted over 200 companies to Kootenai County and has contributed to the creation of more than 7,000 jobs. Paul never sought credit — he saw what needed to be done and did it with grace and resolve.

Paul met Sandy, the love of his life, at the Post Falls Rotary Club. They were married Aug. 19, 2006, and together they created a remarkable partnership. Their love was apparent to all who knew them.

Paul approached vacations with the same passion he dedicated to everything in life, scrutinizing every detail to ensure that everything went as smoothly as possible while maximizing adventure. He loved to travel, and he and Sandy extensively explored Europe, often accompanied by Sandy’s sister, Shari, and her husband, Ron. They enjoyed numerous historic sites, foods, experiences and music. As a couple, Paul and Sandy traveled to various other destinations around the world and throughout the United States. At home and abroad, Paul remained the same: steady, thoughtful, and gracious.

In 2010, Paul and a group of like-minded citizens focused on the next generation, spearheading the creation of KTEC, the Kootenai Technical Education Campus. When it opened in 2013, it served 277 students. Today, that number has grown to 800, with 500 more on the waiting list — an enduring testament to Paul’s vision and determination.

Paul served on more than a dozen nonprofit boards, typically as president or chair, though he rarely spoke of titles. He valued substance over status. From 1990 to 1991, he served as president of the Coeur d’Alene Rotary Club, where he launched the Rose Sale, which has been the organization’s top fundraiser for over three decades. He chaired the Kootenai Health Foundation from 1991 to 1997 and served on the Kootenai Health Board of Trustees from 1997 to 2017.

His commitment extended even further; he served as president of the Lions and Kiwanis clubs, chaired the boards of the EXCEL Foundation and the Idaho Panhandle Boy Scout Council, and was appointed by Gov. Dirk Kempthorne as chairman of the Idaho Economic Advisory Council. Additionally, Paul served on the Lake City Development Corporation board for ten years and co-founded the Post Falls Rotary Club with his friend John McHugh.

In recognition of his lifelong contributions, Paul was named Citizen of the Year in both Coeur d’Alene (1995) and Post Falls (1992). He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Inland Northwest Partners and shortly before his passing, he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Rotary District 5080.

To those who only met him in passing, Paul may have seemed reserved — an unassuming gentleman with a calm demeanor. But to those who truly knew him, he was a giant. Courageous in the face of hardship, humble in moments of success and quietly relentless in his pursuit of the common good, Paul embodied the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.”

Paul was devoted to his family and loved being called “grandpa.” He was happiest when helping others solve problems. His restored 1967 Corvette was a source of great pleasure for him. He freely offered his time and gave of himself completely, always with understated elegance.

Paul Anderson lived a life of profound impact, marked by grace, humility and quiet courage. He left this world better than he found it — and made us all better for having known him.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Laria Anderson. He is survived by his wife, Sandy, two daughters, two sons-in-law and five grandchildren.

Paul’s celebration of life will take place at the Hagadone Event Center on July 1, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Donations in his memory can be made to the Kootenai Health Foundation (www.kootenaihealthfoundation.org), the Coeur d’Alene Rotary Endowment Foundation (www.coeurdalenerotary.org), or any of Paul’s favorite charities.

Please visit www.englishfuneralchapel.com to share your photos and stories about your experiences with Paul.

These services will be recorded and streamed live. In the event the service is interrupted at any time due to technical issues, the entire service will be uploaded and available to view later in the day.