Obituary: Poffenroth, Harold Clifford
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Endicott.
Urn committal with Military Honors will precede the service at 10:00 a.m. at the Endicott Cemetery.
Hal was born on Christmas day in 1919 in Endicott Washington to John and Mae Poffenroth.
His mother, Mae, was also born on Christmas day.
Hal always said, “If it’s good enough for Jesus it’s good enough for me”.
While growing up in Endicott he was given the nickname of “Dutter” that name stuck with him for the rest of his life.
Hal followed his three older brothers and a stepbrother and joined the Army Air Corps during WWII.
Mae had five stars in her window and all five brothers were in different branches of the service.
While stationed at Blyth, California he lost his left eye when he was hit with a piece of shrapnel.
After spending a year in the Veterans Hospital in Los Angeles he was medically discharged from the Air Corps.
Using the GI Bill, Hal went on to study music at the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music.
Hal was an accomplished bass player both stand up and electric he also played drums and piano and had the most wonderful voice.
Hal worked with many musicians in the Los Angeles and Hollywood area, one of his proudest moments was playing bass with the June Lynn trio at the Hollywood Palladium.
At the time of his death Harold was a proud lifetime member of Musicians Local 47 in Los Angeles.
He moved back to Washington in the 1950’s and joined the Spokane music scene.
Hal spent the next 20 some years with the Don Eagle Trio at the Ridpath Roof.
During the summer the trio would go on the road and had a blast playing up and down the coast.
One of their favorite places to play was Winnemucca NV where they made lifelong friendships.
During the swinging 60’s the Don Eagle trio had a weekly television show where Hal was known as the voice of Spokane.
When Don retired Hal formed his own band the Hal Poffenroth Trio with Amil Kyseth on piano and Ron Slama on drums.
They played in the Spokane area for many years most notably at the Chinese Gardens and Hobart’s.
Besides his wife, children and grandchildren, music was his life and he continued to play around Spokane at age 90.
For the last two years Hal lived between home and the Veterans Home in Spokane where he thrived and developed wonderful friendships.
His caregivers were like family members and he loved them all.
Hal was preceded in death by his mother and father, brothers Otto, Carl and Elmer his sister Clara Morasch, stepbrothers Wally and Ernie Geier, wife Helen and wife Pat.
Harold is survived by the love of his life, wife of 34 years, Toni; his five children; Marsha Rush (Paul), Tim Poffenroth, Bill Poffenroth (Pam), Clifford Poffenroth (Lindsee), Penni Spaulding (Brian).
Grand- children; Randy, Melinda, Dyana, Riley, Ryan, Kendall, Beau, Jennifer (Casey), Kent (Emilee) and Melisa.
Great-grandchildren Cassandra, McKenah, Austin, Zachary, Damon, Carolina, Emily, Aimee, Hunter and Rylan.
Sisters; Carolyn Smith, Dorie Looney and Mary Poffenroth.
Mother-in-law, Sandy Holland (Doug).
Numerous nieces and nephews, many friends and fans that will miss his smiles, kind words and beautiful music.
BRUNING FUNERAL HOME of Colfax has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.bruningfuneralhome.com