William M. Giesa, 94

William M. Giesa passed away Saturday, March 13, 2010, at Beehive Homes in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He was 94.

Bill was born in Potlatch, Idaho, to William Frederick and Marie Pevan Giesa on Sept. 4, 1915.

The oldest of seven children, he lived his early years in Spokane, Wash., and attended St. Aloysuis and Gonzaga Prep and University before transferring to the University of Washington.

In January 1942, he married his bride of 68 years, Margaret Gridley Giesa in Coeur d’Alene, then reported for training for the Royal Canadian Air Force, transferring immediately to the U.S. Army Air Corps as a First Lieutenant. Together with his B-24 “Liberator” crew, they were credited with 50 missions over the Ploesti mine fields in Romania.

Returning stateside in 1945, he went into business with A. L. Gridley, Oscar Nelson and Jim Gridley to open Gridley Investment Co., retiring in 1983, following 38 years of service.

Bill was a certified Idaho Independent Insurance Agent, and the state’s 1983 agent of the year. He served as the secretary-treasurer, and later, president of the Association of Idaho Insurance Agents. During these years, he also served on the city council, was committed to several community clubs and was a lifetime member of the Rotary Club of Coeur d’Alene. He was a charter member of both the Coeur d’Alene Golf Club as well as The Hayden Lake Country Club. Bill was a trustee of Kootenai Medical Center, and was elected as chair of that board for three years.

He was preceded in death by his four brothers, Donald, Robert, Paul and Gerry Pat; and two sisters, Marguerite and Mary Louise. Survivors include his three sons, Mike (Audrey Long) of Sheboygan Falls, Wis., Patrick (Cheryl) of Northville, Mich., and Jim (Donna) of Richland, Wash.; and one daughter, Kathy Montgomery (Pat Pickens) of Coeur d’Alene. Bill’s family also includes nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the nursing staff and personnel of Beehive Homes for their extraordinary care and love of Bill for the nine months he lived at Beehive. Additionally, the staff of Applegate Hospice are commended for their warmth and caring.

Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 19, 2010, at St. Thomas Catholic Church. English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d’Alene, is in charge of the arrangements.

Please sign Bill’s guest registry and view his online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.