July 02, 1930 - January 02, 2017
Alfred Earl Standal - "The Boss" - July 2, 1930January 2, 2017 - My father was born July 2, 1930 in the back seat of a Ford on the way to the hospital in Tonasket Washington. He died early Monday morning January 2nd spending his last days peacefully while surrounded and comforted by family and pets and continued Zag victories. The son of Stan and Elizabeth and the second of five children, Al grew up in Spokane with a strong sense of his Norwegian background. He attended Jefferson grade school and Lewis and Clark high school before spending a memorable year in the Air National Guard in England, touring the countryside on his Triumph motorcycle, drinking warm beer and playing darts in the pubs. He returned in the early 1950's to take over his father's saw sharpening business later growing to become Spokane Power Tool. He married Barbara Gemberling and had two children, Jeff and Koky, while building a home and expanding his business. Known to many as "The Boss", he earned the love and respect of many employees and customers with his hard work and sense of style-cowboy boots and blue jeans, flowered shirts and a dark green Lincoln Continental Mark IV. With the kids grown and an amicable end of marriage Al became an avid golfer and found community at Wandermere Golf Course and later also became a long time member at Spokane Country Club. During this time, he met Vickie, his wife of the next 37 years of his life. Together they raised her children Rodney and Jamie, he taught her the game of golf, and it was off to the good life of work and play and family. He also expanded his business again opening Coeur d'Alene Power Tool. A quiet man with strongly held values and a wisdom born of a strong sense of self. Al lived on his terms while allowing others to do the same. He was an authentic man, not given to hollow praise, but able to show his quiet appreciation for others in a way that gained him deeply loyal friendships. At the age of 70 he decided he must build the home of his dreams. With that he designed a beautiful Mediterranean style home on the hill with sweeping views of downtown Spokane and surrounding area. This home became the center of much socializing with family and friends. Al showed an easy hospitality marked by a spirit of generosity and sense of fun that made this place a hub of warm feeling and acceptance. The marriage of Al and Vickie was held up by many to be the ideal, a partnership of tenderness and respect and humor marked by much teasing. This was the life of a couple living the good life and it was a pleasure to watch. Several years ago Al was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and it began to take its toll. But as he suffered he continued to be an inspiration for accepting the hardest things in life with great dignity. He lived his last days as he lived his life and continued to touch deeply those who came to know him as caregiver. My father was a real man in the deepest sense of that meaning. Preceded in death by his parents Stan and Elizabeth Standal, his sister and brother in law Loretta and Dean Lydig, brother in law Robert Fisher, sister in law Anita Standal, mother in law Gayle Robison and brother in law David Robison. Survived by his immediate family: Vickie Standal, Jeffrey and Patti Standal, Koky Standal, Rodney and Polly Reichel, Jamie Lombardi, Jack and Shelly Robison and numerous wonderful grandchildren and great grandchildren: siblings Norman (Brenda) Standal, Dorothy (James) Backstrom, Millie Fisher and all their beloved family members. Al was laid to rest at a private family service at Spokane Memorial Gardens. The outpouring of concern and love received by the family will always be cherished and remembered.
