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Dean A. Thie

Aug. 16, 1932 — March 7, 2018

Dean Thie was born in San Diego, Calif. His mother, Josephine Cecelia (Shaw) Thie, was Irish and his father, Dean A. Thie Sr., was German. The family moved to Los Angeles in 1937. Dean grew up attending Catholic grammar school (Sisters of Carondelet) and high school, Loyola of Ignatius. He went on to USC on a Navy ROTC scholarship and graduated with a B.A. in cinema as well as a commission Lieutenant, Junior Grade, in The Navy.

He served during the Korean War with a total of three years active service and three years in the reserves. He loved the Navy and served as ship navigator and communications officer. His service took him around on the world in several ships, including The Bremerton, The Eisenhower and The Missouri.

His private career led him to public relations and marketing, He was active in the early years of computer development, working for Computer Science Corporation and TRW. Later he was on the team at advertising agencies in Southern California. He opened his own firm in the 1970s and represented Coors Beer and the Italian Gold Commission among others.

Dean and his wife Elaine moved to the Coeur d’Alene, Idaho area in 1994 after having been married there the year before. He was active for 10 years as executive director of information and referral and developed a directory of 900 non-profit agencies in the North Idaho area. He served on the board of the Museum of North Idaho, Holy Family School, Post Falls Food Bank and Parish Council of St. George’s Church. He was a member of Kiwanis in Coeur d’Alene, serving one term as lieutenant governor of the region.

Dean was active in his church and was a member of the RCIA Team for eight years as well as a Sunday lector, and member of the Adult Faith Formation Team. He loves politics, football (USC), hiking and fishing, film and photography.

He is survived by his wife, Elaine; daughter, Julia McCormack; son, Brian Thie and wife, Glenda Thie; son, Mark Thie and wife, Christiane and four grandchildren, Creed, Ian, Conal and Genevieve. His extended family includes Carole-Lee and Larry Winhold, Paul and Dawne Carver, 13 grandchildren and one great-grandson, with another on the way.

A memorial is planned in Post Falls and in Phoenix after the Easter Holidays. Please send remembrances to the Alzheimer’s Foundation in lieu of flowers.