Chris Santos

Chris Santos

Chris Santos passed away after a stout battle involving heart surgery on May 25, 2010, at the age of 53.

Chris was born in Great Falls, Mont. on Sept. 26, 1956, to Robert and Margaret Santos. As his father was in the military he attended schools in Japan, Wisconsin, Florida, California, Mississippi and graduated in 1975 from Mountain Home High School.

He always had fun stories to tell of delivering newspapers on Mountain Home Air Force Base and working for Keystone Pizza in Mountain Home.

He joined the Air Force in 1975 as a personnel specialist and served his country until his medical retirement due to Hodgkin's disease.

He then went to work for the U.S. Postal Service in 1978 were he was very active with the American Postal Worker's Union. Due to his continued heart problems, he retired from the USPS in 2003 but continued to be the President

of the Idaho State APWU until his death.

His commitment and dedication to others started with his service in The Order of the Arrow (B.S.A.) and continued with his work as Mountain Home high school class treasurer, where he continued to coordinate the Class of 1975 reunions.

Chris was dedicated to making the workplace better for postal employees. He worked tirelessly for his local and state organizations as well as the Boise Central Trades & Labor Council.

He was an avid BSU football fan and he and his son were season ticket holders.

He enjoyed stamp collecting and researching family genealogy.

Chris was a fanatic Journey fan and his love of music carried over into the community with his work with a local band, Redstone, in the 1980s.

Chris married Diane Hope on Aug.31, 1991. Her son, Michael Hope, always held a special place in his heart. They were blessed with a daughter, Michelle, born in 1993, and a son, Matthew, in 1995. Chris' smile, laughter and kind ways will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Chris was preceded in death by his mother, Margaret Santos. He is survived by his wife, Diane, daughter Michelle, son Matthew, stepson Michael (Stephanie), his father, Robert Santos (Carolyn), his brothers, Rob Santos (Joyce Baker) and Tim Santos (Neva), his sister, Rose Axtell (Rick), his mother- and father-in-law, Doris and Cecil Camp, brother in-law Bob Camp (Kelly), as well as numerous nieces and nephews he loved and cared about dearly.

Services were held Friday, June 4, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Boise, Idaho. Pastor Timothy Pauls officiated. Interment was held at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, located next to Dry Creek Cemetery.

Arrangements were under the direction of Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel.

In lieu of flowers the Chris Santos Memorial Fund has been set up at US Bank to help with his children's continuing education. It can be accessed through any US Bank branch or on-line.

His family would like to thank all the numerous doctors and nurses who helped us keep him in our lives for so many wonderful years.