Darwin Ralph Chaffin

Darwin was born on June 24, 1936 to Wendell & Lula Chaffin in Los Angeles California. He had 3 brothers (Leroy, Eldon, & Ron) and 4 sisters (Dorothy, Lavonne, Daronna, & Cindy). The family moved to Idaho when he was young and he attended school in Boise. He enlisted in the Navy reserves and was stationed in San Diego serving 2 years patrolling off the California coast.

Returning to Idaho he worked for Allumbaugh Dairy as a route salesman, Nelson Deppe Road construction as an equipment operator, and Homer Ash market on Overland road. While working there he met and fell in love with the owner's daughter, DeeAnna Williams. They were married in 1957.

Soon after they moved to Arizona for a short period of time while Darwin managed an A&W restaurant. The first of two children, Darwin Jr. was born in 1958, and two weeks later they returned back home to Idaho.

In 1959 their second son, Gary was born and Darwin went to work for Clover Club Foods company. He spent 30 years with this company working his way up the ladder to District Sales manager. While with Clover Club foods the family was transferred from Burley, Idaho to Odessa, Texas, back to Idaho Falls, and finally settling in Kimberly Idaho for 10 years. Darwin finished his career with Clover Club Foods in Boise. For the remainder of his working life he held positions in the food brokerage business handling a wide variety of food products in Albertson's, WinCo, and many independent stores.

In 1984 he married his wife Joni, they lived in Twin Falls, Boise, and Nampa and have been married 31 years.

Dad's passion has been the Idaho outdoors. He fished, hunted, camped, motorcycle trail rode, and jet boated in the pristine lakes, rivers and reservoirs of Idaho. He was an avid fisherman, in particular sturgeon fishing. He loved to spend time bass fishing and exploring Hells Canyon. He has fished in Canada, Oregon, Mexico and the gulf of Mexico off the Texas shores. But some of his most cherished memories were salmon and halibut fishing in Alaska with his brother Leroy, who had a home on the Kenai river.

His camping and trail rides took him into the Idaho mountains, his favorite being the White Clouds. His sons recall him saying "Boys you can't get any closer to God than we are right now" while sitting on the many peaks of the Idaho Mountains. There is no place in Idaho that he didn't spend time either camping, hiking, hunting or fishing. He loved Idaho. He felt it was truly a gem of a state and he felt blessed to have been able to explore Idaho from top to bottom. Through all of these activities his two boys, grandsons and countless friends were his companions.

In Dad's final four years he was a resident of Paramount Parks at Eagle assisted living facility. The family would like to thank all the care givers for their kind, compassionate and loving care they gave him while he called Paramount home. And toward the end of his stay he was further blessed with care by the First Choice Hospice group. As Alzheimer's took its toll, Dad was always treated with the utmost dignity and respect. Our family is so very thankful for these angels in his life.

Darwin is survived by his wife Joni, his loving sons Darwin Jr. (Mary), Gary (Paula), grandchildren Greg (Ryann), Angie (Patrick Coyne), Brandon (Sheree), Chad (Hayden), Morgan Hoffman and Curt (Jenna) Shankel. And ten beautiful great grandchildren (Caleb, Bennett, Adeline, Maya and Brannick Chaffin. Siena, Kian and Braden Coyne. Dallas Williamson and Cali Shankel). And three sisters, Dorothy Latham (Dean), Daronna Landon (Gene) and Cindy Sterling (Don) and his many beloved nieces and nephews. Darwin was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, and his sister Lavonne.

A memorial service will be held Thursday September 24 at 11:00 at  the Alden Waggoner Funeral Chapel,  located at 5400 Fairview Ave., in  Boise.