Konrad Per Dahlstrom, 80

Konrad Per Dahlstrom, 80, passed away at his home in Clark Fork, Idaho, on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023. Private family services are being held and a larger public memorial is being planned in the New Year.

Konrad was born Sept. 30, 1943, in Hartford, Conn., to Earl and Rosalie Dahlstrom. He lived for a short while in China with this parents, attending kindergarten before they moved to Chicago where Konrad attended elementary school and eventually went to nursing training at Northeastern Illinois University.

Konrad met Joyce Pence in Chicago in 1976 while he was flying a kite on Cricket Hill in Lincoln Park. They spent many years travelling around the country while Konrad worked as a trauma nurse in Boston, Chicago, the UP of Michigan, and San Francisco. Eventually they made their way to Clark Fork and Konrad spent his last working years at Bonner General Hospital in Sandpoint. He spent years working night shifts, weekends, and holidays, most notably dressing as Santa for Christmas. He retired in 2005.

Konrad was a compassionate, intelligent man who was loved by his hiking group, coworkers, friends, and family. He enjoyed fishing, hiking, photography and travel. Most of his life he could be found at 5 a.m. sitting at the kitchen table with a strong cup of coffee and his beloved crossword puzzles. Some of his favorite adventures with Joyce were visiting Sweden, driving across Southern France and multiple trips to Glacier National Park.

We will remember his kindness, his clear-eyed thinking, and his love of the natural world, and we will live better having known and loved him.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce Pence, of Clark Fork, brother Karl (Margaret) Dahlstrom of Chicago, his nephew, Lukas (Maria) Dahlstrom, and two beloved nieces in Chicago.