David Victor Ghigleri, 77

David “Dave” Victor Ghigleri, 77, a lifelong resident of Wallace, Idaho, beloved father, grandfather and brother, passed away Aug. 16, 2025, at Silverton of Cascadia Health and Rehabilitation, Silverton, Idaho, after an extended illness. David was born Jan. 31, 1948, in Wallace, Idaho, to parents Guy and Myrtle Ghigleri. 

Dave attended Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Wallace and graduated from Wallace High School. During his senior year of high school, David began working in the mines and continued to work after graduation. He worked for the Dayrock, Star and Galena mines. David regaled the family with many tales of after-shifters up at Esther’s Bar in Burke. Dave also operated equipment for the Zanetti Brothers at the Bunker Hill for a while, too. Later on, he started Ghigleri Logging, where he was the owner and operator for many years. 

Like any good Idahoan, Dave spent most of his time outdoors. He loved fishing and prospecting. A man of diverse interests, he was an excellent baker, an arborist, a historian, an amateur geologist and a love of all creatures great and small. Dave even became quite a talented ring maker in his retirement, fashioning them by hand from gold and silver coins with a hammer and an anvil in his basement. 

The family ranch in Montana was the place that was closest to his heart. On the ranch, he tended to the cattle there as a young man and later on planted every kind of fruiting tree and bush that could survive the cold Montana winters. He and his family enjoyed camping on the ranch in the spring, summer and fall. A storyteller of the highest order, you would be captivated from start to finish. Dave was a voracious reader. He often read books cover to cover in one sitting. You would be hard-pressed to find a topic that he couldn’t speak on.  

In addition to his parents, Dave is preceded in death by his wife, Karen Marie Ghigleri, who passed away in 2008. 

Dave is survived by three sons, David Brent Ghigleri (Tiffany Ornelas) of Kootenai, Idaho, Guy David (Michelle) Ghigleri of Mullan, Idaho, and Gian Steffano Ghigleri of Wallace, Idaho; two daughters, Ann (Al) Caron-Wilks of Wallace, Idaho, and Masina Marie (Jason) Chambers of Mullan, Idaho; a sister, Judi (Joseph) Quillici of Tacoma, Wash.; as well as numerous grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Private family interment occurred at the family ranch in Montana. A celebration of Dave’s life will be held Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, at 1 p.m. at the Wallace Elks Lodge, Wallace, Idaho. 

Shoshone Funeral Services, Kellogg, is assisting the Ghigleri family with arrangements.