He was born in Spokane, Washington, on November 6, 1954, to Barbara Gemberling Standal and Al Standal. Jeff enjoyed his years at Brown Elementary and graduated from Mead High School as senior class president in 1973. He traveled for several years before attending Gonzaga University and graduating with a degree in political science. Jeff joined his father’s business, Spokane Power Tool, and later opened and managed Coeur d’Alene Power Tool until his retirement in 2026.
In 1986, Jeff married, and in 1992 adopted his beloved daughter Lena. That marriage ended, and in 2005 Jeff met Patti, the love of his life. They married in 2006, and together they built a life of incredible adventures, connection, and happiness, first living on the Little Spokane River and then in downtown Spokane overlooking the Spokane Falls. They traveled extensively and entertained friends and family at home, especially the grandchildren, because Grandpa Jeff was their best buddy! Patti and Jeff spent much time at their favorite cabin at Elkins on Priest Lake, in Santa Barbara, and on the Oregon coast. They loved going to art shows everywhere and collecting art, but loved just being together more than anything, especially road tripping.
Jeff loved playing squash, kayaking, reading, documentaries, road trips, music, riding his e-bike, and the six men of his men’s group, of which he was a part for almost 40 years. He was smart, athletic, funny, kind, articulate, tender, handsome, well-read, and generous. Jeff had an exceptional eye for beauty, style, and design. Jeff was loved, admired and respected by everyone who knew him.
He is survived by his loving wife, Patti; daughter, Lena, of Spokane; mother, Barbara, of Seattle; sister, Colleen, of Petaluma, California; friend, Tom, of Seattle; aunt, Sharon, of Seattle; stepson, Colton (Claire), of Post Falls, Idaho; and stepdaughter, Lauren (Yaniv), and their five children, Leanne, Ori, Ben, Daniel, and Lior, all of Hawaii. He was preceded in death by his father, Al Standal.
Friends and family are invited to visit the commemorative bench dedicated to Jeff and Patti. Located in Riverfront Park behind The Center for the Arts along the Spokane River, it bears a Bruce Springsteen lyric from the song played at their wedding.
Obituary for Jeffery Alan Standal 11/06/1954 ~ 08/05/2026
Diane Brower (Gemmill)
Very sad news! May he rest in peace!🕊️
William Miller
Jeff and I (and his little sister Colleen--aka Koke) became friends soon after the Standals moved to Whitworth Terrace. I think they lived briefly on Waikiki just a few doors down from us while building their home on Five Mile Road. Jeff's dad and mine had similar Old School values about getting the chores done before playing. We used to help each other digging, weeding and other projects so we could be released from servitude and get to partying.
Jeff was as mischievous as I was, always looking for a prank to pull. One winter we had a ton of snow and we would pelt the activity bus on Five Mile with snowballs. I didn't get caught but Jeff and Ron Riley did and had to wash school busses after school for a week for their crimes.
I will never forget getting busted in Manito Park with Jeff and the gang with a limousine trunk full of beer (remember Jeff’s stretch Cadillac?). We thought we were so clever pouring out only half of each beer as directed by the cops until one of our numbskull friends loaded the cases upside down in the trunk. We drove off spewing a river of cheap beer.
Below is a photo of Jeff with his prized Cadillac.
I lost touch with Jeff for many years but I am glad to say I did have a chance to sit and talk with him for a couple of hours on a motorcycle trip to Spokane last summer. He was hesitant to talk about his illness but any other topic was open for conversation.
I am sad I won’t have a chance to continue the renewal of our friendship. The lesson here is this: If you have an old friend with shared memories, reach out to them now, before it is too late. If any of you have anecdotes of our time together during our school days, I am ready to reminisce.
Wayne Gunning
Bill Miller's posting with the picture of Jeff's caddy limo triggered a flashback memory I thought I'd share. Junior year, old high school, middle of a period and everyone's supposed to be in class. I'm in Al Toutant's classroom. The north side of the building had strip of asphalt outside the classrooms, then dropped over the hillside down to the athletic fields. Mr. Toutant is in his full glory doing his thing. There was a commotion in the room because slowly cruising by on that asphalt strip was Jeff's caddy. Jeff Standal behind the wheel with John Boyle riding shotgun. Both guys waving to everyone in every classroom they passed. How did two guys on such opposite ends of the social spectrum get together, why weren't they in class, and what made them decide to go for a cruise around the school? Answers that will probably never be known. It sure broke Mr. Toutant's rhythm and took him awhile to get things back on track, and I'm sure it had an affect on all of the other classrooms they passed. Jeff and I were in completely different social groups and didn't have much interaction when we were in school. I saw him at the 40th reunion and he went out of his way to come over and talk to me and we had a great time together. Sorry to hear of his passing.
This paragraph/response below is from John Boyle!
In answer to Wayne's question above...
"Absolutely true. I was not cutting class however. As a junior, I had study hall and was asked by the vice principal if I wanted to use the time by going to the school district office across the bus parking lot and drive a district car down the street to the old Mead Post Office to collect the district mail. Sure, it got me out of study hall and I could practice driving. The car was a ex-Navy 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air staff car..still in its light gray paint. To this day those drives account for most of my time driving 1950s cars. One day I was walking back across the parking lot and Jeff stopped by in his limo, and asked if I wanted a ride. Having never ridden in a limo, I said sure. Somehow we got the idea to buzz by Toutant's class, knowing my staid reputation (Toutant called me Senator Boyle) and Standel's wild reputation would be a fun juxtaposition". According to Gunning, it worked! That was the highlight of Jeff's and my friendship. That drive is one of my favorite school memories, I'm glad...and a bit surprised...Wayne remembered it. RIP Jeff and condolences to his friends and family." John Boyle
Jenny Kellogg
Like many in school, knew the name and face, but didn't know Jeff. I am so sorry he passed away, but he in peace now and it's shocking to see how many classmates have been gone to us all. I enjoy hearing all the stories about him. Wish I would have known him and many others a lot better, but being kids we thought we were never going to die and had plenty of time. I was wrong. Condolences to his family and friends.
Terry McAleer
Jeff and and I have been good friends since the seventh grade. I moved from Chicago to Spokane in the spring of the seventh grade and knew nobody and talked funny :-) Doug Main was the first guy I met because we lived with his family for 10 days while our house was being finished in Brentwood. Jeff may have been the second guy I met. It took a while for him to warm up to me, but they let me into the "in group". It turns out those guys that smoked drank and did drugs. I was in heaven anyway there's a lot of stories I could tell about Jeff, but the funniest one I could think of is when Doug Main and I were up at Manito at about midnight down by the lake doing something mysterious, I'm sure. Here comes a black Cadillac like the ones I used for funeral processions and Jeff Standal hanging out the window."Are there any spare chicks are there any spare chicks". Doug and I laughed our butts off, then pretended like we didn't know him. I still start laughing even think about it today. Doug and I were with Jeff towards the end and really had some good conversations and good times. I will miss you, my brother and hope to see you on the other side. Rest in peace Jeff I loved you and will continue to remember you always!😢