William Nick Dire, M.D., 88

Beloved father, grandfather, doctor and friend, William Nick Dire, M.D., 88, of Wallace, Idaho, passed away Jan. 18, 2021, at Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He was born Sept. 19, 1932, in Wallace. William was the son of John and Mary Josephine (Santa Marco) Dire.

Bill attended and graduated from Wallace High School in 1950; while attending high school Bill excelled in football, basketball and track, he also served as the First District Governor of the Wallace Key Club. He then furthered his education and completed college in just three years at the University of Idaho receiving his bachelor’s degree. Bill then attended and graduated from the University Of Oregon Medical School.

William married Barbara Ann Church on Nov. 14, 1959, at the General Patton Memorial Hospital Chapel in Heidelberg, Germany. Barbara had served as a surgical nurse.

William had first served at the Minneapolis General Hospital in Minneapolis, Minn. He then served in the U.S. Army in Germany for two years. After returning to the states, he practiced in Spokane, Wash., for five years at the Sacred Heart Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital, Deaconess and the Holy Family. Dr. Dire then returned to the Silver Valley in September 1965, opening up his own practice of which he operated for 33 years. He retired in July 1998.

Dr. Dire is survived by three children, William Dire Jr. of Wallace, Don M. (Gretchen) Dire of Vancouver, Wash., Suzanne (Chuck) Caswell of Post Falls, Idaho; five grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Dominick Dire; one sister, Lena MacGuffie and his beloved wife, Barbara who passed away Sept. 17, 2002.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 18, 2021, at the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Wallace, with Father Jerome Montez officiating. A reception for family and friends will be held at the Wallace Elks following services.

The family suggests memorials may be made to the Wallace Elks, 419 Cedar St., Wallace, ID 83873; to the Shoshone Golf Course, 2000 Country Club Road, Kellogg, ID 83837 or to the Wallace Swimming Pool, c/o City of Wallace, 703 Cedar St., Wallace, ID 83873.

Shoshone Funeral Services & Crematory, Kellogg, Idaho, is entrusted with services. You may share your memories of William and sign his guest book at www.shoshonefuneralservice.com.