William John Slattery

With profound sadness we say goodbye to Bill Slattery, a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend to so many whose lives he touched. Bill passed away peacefully of complications of heart failure with his family by his side. 

Born on June 16, 1939 in Atkinson, NE to Thomas and Claire Slattery, Bill departed his life with immense courage and pride, leaving behind many people who loved him. In our grief, we are left to celebrate his accomplishments and joyous memories of a truly admirable man. 

Bill was the youngest of four and grew up working in his father’s hardware store. Bill loved playing both basketball and track, joking that his state track record still stands (in feet). Each summer, he and his brother Jim hitchhiked from Nebraska to Idaho to fight forest fires outside of McCall. He loved Idaho so much that he called it his home. Bill graduated from St Joseph’s Catholic High School in 1957 and attended Creighton University where he earned a degree in General Dentistry from Creighton University School of Dentistry in 1965. Bill met his life-long love, Jane Nancy Jedlicka in Omaha and the two were married in 1962, the beginnings of a 62-year love affair filled with adventure. 

They eventually settled in Boise, after he served in the military at Mountain Home AFB. He was one of the base dentists who prepared pilots and servicemen for Vietnam duty. He devoted 34 years to his dental practice in Boise, providing him a perfect opportunity to do what he loved taking care of patients he called friends and also practice his stand-up routine. In 1975, Bill rented space in his basement to Ward and Joe Parkinson and partners, giving them their first offices in Boise. If you asked Bill, he would tell you how proud he was to have shared in the storied beginnings of Micron Technology. 

Bill retired in 2001 and perfected his true calling as a devoted grandparent. Grampie loved time with his grandsons. He could be found on the sidelines of every soccer match, track meet and hockey game. Retirement also gave he and Jane more time to travel the west in search of “treasures” and adventure.

We loved our husband, father, grandfather and uncle deeply as did his friends and many patients. We will try to carry on his legacy of humor, kindness and generosity. Bill was a man who valued his faith, family life, earnest hard work, his friends and community. He has cemented our fond memories of countless camping trips and extended family gatherings to Stanley, McCall, Sun Valley and Nebraska and Iowa. 

Bill is survived by his loving wife Jane, his son Dr. John Slattery (Stacy), and grandsons Connor (Lily), Will and Aidan. He is also survived by his sister Mary Margaret McKay (Jerry), sister-in-law Mary Ann Slattery and many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Claire Slattery, step-mother Ada Slattery, two brothers Dr. Tom Slattery and Dr. James Slattery, sister-in-law Beverly Slattery and his father and mother-in-law, Henry and Gladys Jedlicka. 

Funeral services will be held at St. John’s Catholic Church at 11am on January 18th with a reception held at Hillcrest Country Club in Boise. Interment at Veterans Cemetery to follow on January 21st. In lieu of flowers, the Slattery family asks that a donation be made in Bill’s name to Bishop Kelly High School Scholarships 7009 Franklin Road Boise, ID 83709. Bishop Kelly High School and Catholic Schools were very important to Bill. We love you Bill, Dad, Grampie, your life is imprinted in our hearts forever.