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William A. Valente, 84

William A. Valente, 84, born Jan. 15, 1933, and passed June 5, 2017, at Hospice of North Idaho’s Scheidmiller House peacefully with family by his side.

The Valente family, as we know it, started when a 15-year-old boy named Giovanni Antonio Valente (John) came from Mola, Italy (right outside Bari) on a boat through Ellis Island in 1913. Bill was born to John and Rose Elizabeth (Hazel) Valente in a small farm house (still standing at 15th and Hanley) in Dalton Gardens (Coeur d’Alene), Idaho.

Bill attended the Catholic school in Coeur d’Alene and, at the age of 17, joined the Army and was in the Korean War. While stationed in Korea for 3 1/2 years, Bill was a Paratrooper and a telephone lineman.

He married Carol Dahlin in September 1963 and celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary this past year. They had three children: Daughter Lynne in 1964, sons Michael in 1966 and Mark in 1980. Bill worked for IFI’s Atlas Tie until health problems had him retire in 1984. With retirement came his many hobbies. Bill was a beautiful artist that included portrait painting, sign painting and his love for woodworking crafts. He made and donated many wood crafts for the grandchildren’s school auctions and functions. Bill’s love for his grandchildren became apparent when he spent countless hours baby-sitting the munchkins. One of their favorite pastimes was baking bread with Papa, which was shared with family and neighbors.

Bill had been in and out of nursing homes for the past four years with Parkinson’s. The most recent was in Coeur d’Alene at Lacrosse Health and Rehab where he had been for the past 16 months.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, John and Hazel Valente; sister Julie Emehiser; brothers Thomas, Pete, Vic and Jim Valente; nephew Ronnie Valente; and nieces Julie Valente, and Jan Peterson.

Bill is survived by his wife, Carol, at the family home; children Lynne (Wayne) Hammond, Michael (Erin) Valente and Mark (Angela) Valente; grandchildren Bethany (Brent), Dakota (Ashley), Taylor, Trystan, Trace and Gabrielle; great-grandchildren Trey, Jersey, Parker and Gracelynn (due in October 2017); and numerous nephews and nieces. His niece, Kim Kristine, had a very special bond with her Uncle Bill, and he will be sorely missed.

At his request, no services will be held. A memorial picnic will be held at a later date in Moscow, Idaho, park for family and friends. Donations can be made in Bill’s name to any Parkinson’s Research Foundation.

Visit William’s memorial and sign his online guest book at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.