Alvin Mael

Alvin “Al” Leroy Mael, 75, of Osburn, Idaho, passed away on January 30, 2014 at the family home of Osburn after a long fought battle with melanoma cancer. He was born March 19, 1938 in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho; Al was the son of Cecil and Frances (Moore) Mael.

As a child, Al got the great opportunity of being raised in North Idaho. He truly loved this area and could tell you the names of all the mountain peaks and drainages. Al spent a lot of his time fishing the rivers and streams in this area, when he was young. He attended high school in Kingston and Kellogg, where he graduated in 1956. After attending high school, Al married Disa Samuelson of Pinehurst on August 26, 1960. Al and Disa had two children Ed and Valerie.

Al started his working career in the logging industry, but soon found out it wasn’t his calling. He then went to work for the Bunker Hill Mining Company and decided to go underground and try mining with his father Cecil. Once again finding out not his calling, so he put in for a transfer to the smelter and applied for a maintenance apprenticeship and so began his career. Al worked his way up into supervision and served the company for twenty-six years until its closure. He also spent time with the Hecla Mining Company, the Lucky Friday unit. When times got tough and the mines shut down, Al had no choice but to leave his home and seek work elsewhere. This took him to Tennessee, then to Louisiana, where he ran the maintenance departments for secondary lead smelters. Through these tough times, Al and Disa divorced. Al retired early, so he could take care of his father; at this time they decided to move to Sturgis, South Dakota, so he could be closer to his daughter. During this time, he met Lois Esche and they married on May 3, 1997. They spent sixteen happy years together and she was at his side when he passed.
In 2003, Al made the choice to move back home to North Idaho; after all, there was no elk hunting in South Dakota. Hunting was Al’s true passion and boy did the elk pay the price for it. He had a reputation of being a very successful hunter. Even when the people he was hunting with would tell him not to shoot anything in the bottom of a canyon, Al would not only shoot them in the bottom, but even up the other side. He would always state not to worry about where to shoot the elk, because he would get them out and always did. Al also enjoyed motorcycles, snowmobiles and ATV’s; in his younger years, he belonged to the Mountaineer’s Motorcycle Club and at one time rode and raced with Evel Knievel. Then in my Father’s true fashion, they all partied afterwards. I can remember my mother telling me Evel (Bob) Knievel was a good dancer. When snowmobiles came to the valley once again, Al was at the forefront; he began riding in 1967 and did not stop for thirty years. When Al returned to the Silver Valley, he began to ride ATV’s more. He became involved with the Carbon Monoxide Commandos ATV Club; this was a small group of friends who would get together and put on a benefit ride for the Shriners Hospital once a year; Al truly enjoyed helping lay out the trail for the ride. Even after he became ill, he still managed to help with the ride and lend his knowledge of the area. His help and understanding of the trails will truly be missed.

Al is survived by his wife Lois Mael of the family home of Osburn; his son Ed (Kim) Mael of Pinehurst; his daughter Valerie (Chad) Esche of Absarokee, Montana; two granddaughters Tabitha and Sabrina Mael of Pinehurst; one grandson Nick Mael of Tucson, Arizona; two great-grandsons Wren Stallsworth of Pinehurst and Nathan Mael of Tucson, Arizona; three step-sons Chad Esche of Absarokee, Montana, Jason Esche of Hot Springs, South Dakota and Troy Esche of Winnemucca, Nevada. Al was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife Disa.

Memorial Services and A Celebration of Al’s Life will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. at the Silver Valley Worship Center of Smelterville with Pastor Corey Berti officiating. A potluck reception will be held at the Church following services. Following the reception, a gathering will be held at the Wheel Bar in Smelterville.

The family suggests that memorials may be made to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, P.O. Box 8249, Missoula, MT. 59807 or to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 Government Way, Hayden, Idaho 83835.

SHOSHONE FUNERAL SERVICES & CREMATORY KELLOGG, IDAHO is entrusted with funeral arrangements.

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