By Jeanne Sager
HORTONVILLE — August 20, 2002 – John Eschenberg’s greatest memories of Bill Dirie seem to coincide with the windiest nights of winter.
With the snow flying at his windshield and the roads a sheet of ice, the supervisor of the Town of Delaware from 1960-1975 could always count on Dirie, his trusty superintendent of highways, to be out there on duty.
Dirie, who succeeded Eschenberg as supervisor in 1976, serving three years then returning in 1986 for another stint on the board, is remembered most for always being there for people.
Dirie, 73, died Sunday morning, leaving a host of friends and an extended family throughout the area.
“He was a man you could depend on,” Eschenberg said. “He would work as many hours as necessary, without complaining, and he was never afraid of driving out on an icy night.
“He was a good friend and a good superintendent of highways,” he added. “He was a decent man to my way of thinking.”
And Dirie was always there for his six children.
“Anything we ever needed we had, within reason,” said Dirie’s son, Jay. “Anything anyone ever needed he was there – he was just a people person.
“He did everything for a lot of people.”
A resident of Roscoe at the time of his death, Dirie was the owner of Dirie Supply and past chief and life member of the Hortonville Volunteer Fire Department. For further information regarding arrangements for Dirie’s funeral services, see page 10A.