2/16/1921 - 9/27/2015

Archie Thomas Cernaghan died on September 27, 2015 at the Hospice House of Northern Idaho.  Archie was born on February 16, 1921 to Albert and Ruth (Remington) Cernaghan in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After graduating high school, he attended the University of Minnesota for two years. During his high school and college years, he worked summers for the C.G.C. In 1942, Archie went to Maine to work in the shipyards. In 1943, he entered the Army and was shipped out to Europe in 1944. He served with the 94th Infantry Division. In WWII, he earned his sharpshooters badge, the Good Conduct Medal, the WWII Medal, and three Bronze Stars. He earned the 3rd Bronze Star for rescuing his squad from an ambush. After the war, Archie remained in Germany, guarding German prisoners awaiting trial for war crimes.
In 1948, he returned to the United States, hitchhiked across the country, and rejoined his unit in Fort Lewis, Washington. He served in Alaska with troops training on cross-country skis. Archie was approached about applying for the U.S. ski team, but he declined. Upon returning from Alaska, he became the ROTC instructor for Benson High School in Omaha, Nebraska. He served at Fort Riley, Kansas; Aschaffenburg, Germany; Fort Benning, Georgia; and Fort Bliss, Texas; where he retired from the Army in 1963. After retiring, he worked for 7-11 stores as a manager for 20 years, after which Archie retired for good.
In 1953, Archie married his true love, Alzada Schlaefli; a marriage that lasted 58 years until Alzada’s death in 2011. After raising four daughters, Archie and Alzada moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1995 to be near two daughters. Archie was a loving husband to his wife, and a loving father to his four daughters. He was an honest, hard-working man. Archie’s demeanor and modesty never gave hint to the many adventures and experiences he had in his life. He was a true member of the “Greatest Generation”. We will always love and miss you, pop!
Archie is survived by four daughters: Carol Nesbit, of McClure, Pennsylvania; Daphne Goodson, of Coeur d’Alene; Boots Gordon (John) of Avondale, Arizona; Roxanne Cernaghan of Coeur d’Alene; 10 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Please call a family member for details.