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 1956 and the couple had three children, Robert W., Julie and Jeanne. Bob and Janet later divorced in 1989. In March 1990, Bob married B. Barbara Butler. Barbara passed away in January 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, all of whom he loved. 

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, April 11, 2025, at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Pinehurst, Idaho. 

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.