Nadine Ruth Boss, 89, of Coeur d’Alene, ID passed away quietly Saturday evening, March 1, 2014, surrounded by family at the Hospice House in Hayden, ID.

Nadine was born on October 2, 1924, in Riverside, Calif., to Thomas and Ethel Russell. Nadine moved with her family to Whittier, Calif., at an early age, and graduated from Whittier Union High School in 1942, where her love for writing began. She met her “sailor,” John David Boss, Jr., during WWII, and as she always stated, “It was love at first sight!” So, she married this handsome sailor on May 20, 1949, and had three sons: John David "Dave" Boss, III, Daniel Brian Boss, and Mark Scott Boss. They raised their boys in Whittier until they took a summer vacation to Coeur d'Alene in 1967. Upon returning home, they quickly packed their belongings and moved to Coeur d’Alene that fall. In 1974, John built Nadine a home on the corner of Wyoming and Ramsey in Hayden where they lived until John retired from the Coeur d’Alene Post Office in 1990.

In addition to being a homemaker and raising three active boys, Nadine also worked in their little store, Boss’ General Store (formally known as Ida Whitely Market) on Seventh Street; as a sales clerk at JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, and finally the Hallmark Store on the corner of Third and Sherman until her retirement. While working at Hallmark, Nadine wrote numerous newspaper articles for the Coeur d’Alene Press, Spokesman Review, and a weekly column in Lake Valley Times.

Nadine had a long love affair with the printed word - reading books, and writing short stories and poetry. It was her life. She was an active member of the Idaho Writer’s League beginning in 1968, having numerous short stories, poems, and booklets published, and earning the “Poet of the Year” Award in 1996. In 1987 she won second place in the "Short Story" division as one of the Cultural Arts winners of the Idaho Association of American Mothers. Nadine was also the editor of the Coeur d’Alene Garden Club newsletter for many years. During her retirement, when she wasn't writing she was volunteering at the Post Falls Library or Post Falls Senior Center, and was an active member of the Coeur d’Alene Garden Club from 1994 to 2000.

Once Nadine and John became empty-nesters, they enjoyed traveling. They went back east for the fall colors, and flew over to England several times to visit Nadine’s childhood pen pal (who she had kept in touch with since she was 9 years old). It brought Nadine great joy to finally visit her childhood friend in person - twice with Johnny at her side, and once again after his death with her two oldest granddaughters, Stephanie and Christie Boss.

Retiring in 1990, Nadine and John moved to a condo on the Spokane River in Post Falls. After John’s passing in 1992, Nadine moved back to Coeur d’Alene for several years, eventually moving to the Bestland Senior Living Community until her passing.

Nadine was preceded in death by her husband, John, of 42 years; and sister and brother-in-law, Brenta and Lester Garrentson. She is survived by her sons and their families: Dave (Joyce) Boss, Dan (Kathie) Boss, and Mark (Cheryl) Boss, all of Athol, ID; grandchildren: Stephanie Boss Thomas (Dana); Jeremiah Boss (Jackie); Christie Boss Coulter (Paul); Mark Boss, Jr.; Miranda Boss Custer (Keven); Rachel Boss; Trevor Darnold (Jenifer); Britnea Darnold Martin (Richard); and Rob Templin; great grandchildren: Bethanie and Morgan Hulce, Tyson Boss, Kammie, Cole, Logan and Tristian Darnold.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. today, March 8, at the English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. Fourth St., Coeur d'Alene, with a gathering to follow in the funeral chapel reception center. Private burial will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls, ID. Please visit Nadine’s online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com