Peter Harry Dierks

Peter Harry Dierks passed away on February 5 at the age of 84 following a respiratory illness. He was born on July 30, 1941 in Kansas City, and lived in Boulder since 1994. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 57 years, Sheila Durkin Dierks, and survived by four children, their spouses, and eight grandchildren (Timothy, Laura, Lemon, Henry, and Adam of Brooklyn, NY; Brian and Maria of Schenevus, NY; Lael Dowd, Ted, Nora, Ted III, and Cecilia of Arlington, VA; and John, Emily, Lewis, and Nell of Seattle, WA).

Peter and Sheila raised their children well, with deep love and acceptance that we can only hope to honor with our own families. They made Mapleton Hill their home for more than three decades, building many friendships in the community here and in their church, Light of Christ Ecumenical Catholic Community of Longmont.

Educated at the University of Notre Dame (where he was a “triple-domer” for his three degrees) and the University of Kansas, he retired from Bell Laboratories as a Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff.

In his retirement, Peter served as the “pastor’s spouse” in support of Sheila’s ministry, found deep satisfaction in his home-maintenance projects, and was on a mission to compare every huevos rancheros in Boulder. A lover of puzzles, the only item left on his “bucket list” was acing the Wordle with a score of 1. He always kept socks and handwarmers in his car for distribution to Boulder’s less fortunate.

A celebration of his life will be held at Light of Christ in the spring. Donations in his memory can be made to your local food pantry or hospice program.