Robert 'Bob' Earl Launhardt, 92

Robert “Bob” Earl Launhardt, 92, of Pinehurst, Idaho, passed away Nov. 1, 2024, at Mountain Valley of Cascadia, Kellogg, Idaho. Robert was born Dec. 1, 1931, in Collinsville, Ill., the second of five children to the late Carl and Anna (Lorenz) Launhardt. The forebearers of both of his parents emigrated from Germany in the 1830s, settling south of St. Louis, Mo., near the Mississippi River. 

During the summers of 1951 to 1953, Bob worked as a stope and raise miner in the Talache Mine in Atlanta, Idaho. He was employed by the Sunshine Mine in Kellogg in February of 1954. In December of that year, he was appointed recording secretary for the United Steelworkers of America, Local 5809. He also served as president and financial secretary to that local union and on the executive committee of the Idaho State AFL-CIO. 

A few years later in 1961, Bob began a career in mine safety and health. He was the mine safety engineer at the time of the Sunshine Mine fire disaster May 2, 1972. Bob led the first three mine rescue teams into the mine, rescuing two people on the day of the disaster. Later on, he took charge of environmental compliance, representing Sunshine Mining Company in the Bunker Hill Superfund natural resource damages settlement. 

Bob was a 14th-generation Lutheran. He taught Sunday School and Bible classes and served on various church councils. He also served on the West Shoshone District Hospital board, the school board for school district 391, the Pinehurst PTA, the Pinehurst Planning and Zoning Board, as well as the West Shoshone County Citizens Advisory Committee. 

Bob married Janet D. Noyen in September of 1956, and the couple had three children: Robert W., Julie and Jeanne. Bob and Janet later divorced in 1989. In March of 1990, Bob married B. Barbara Butler. Barbara passed away in January of 2013. 

Survivors include his wife of six years, Sandy Bitterle Launhardt, of Pinehurst, Idaho; his son, Bob, and spouse Karla of Edmond, Okla.; his daughter, Julie, and spouse Doug of Seattle, Wash.; and his daughter, Jeanne, and spouse Rick of Springfield, Tenn. Bob is also survived by his grandchildren, Nathan, Kalli and Lauren; and great-grandchild Aiden. He is also survived by numerous stepchildren and step-grandchildren.

A celebration of Bob’s life is being planned and will be held in the spring of 2025 with a date to be announced. 

Memories of Bob and messages of condolence may be shared with his family online at www.shoshonefuneralservice.com. Shoshone Funeral Services, Kellogg, is assisting the Launhardt family with arrangements.