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William Patrick Wigle May 30, 1929 - June 22, 2022

William Patrick (Bill) Wigle

May 30, 1929 – June 22, 2022

Bill Wigle, long-time baseball coach at Borah High School in Boise, ID, passed away at his Boise home on June 22, 2022.  He was 93 years old.  A memorial service will be held on July 16th at the Borah High School auditorium beginning at 2:00pm.

Bill was born in Cheyenne Wyoming to Walter and Ethel Wigle.  He moved to Boise as an infant. As a teenager he worked with his dad and brother, Glen “Bud” in the family brick business.  In his early 20’s he met a young lady, Rosalee Hartwell who would become the love of his life. He and Rosalee were married in 1953 and they remained husband and wife to the time of Bill’s death, nearly 70 years later.

He graduated from Franklin High School in Boise and earned a BA in Physical Education from the College of Idaho.  He later attended Utah State University, where he earned his Masters Degree in Education.  He taught at Collister Elementary and South Jr. High School before joining the original coaching staff at Borah High School in1958.

Bill had a passion for sports, playing baseball, football and boxing while at the College of Idaho.  While at Borah High, Coach Wigle, as most knew him, was a long-time baseball coach and was instrumental in building the baseball facility that now bears his name.

Coach Wigle was passionate about introducing students to sports that they could play for a lifetime. For decades, he taught countless students how to play an impressive variety of sports – including golf, tennis, scuba diving, backpacking, bowling, badminton, alpine skiing, cross country skiing, and ping pong – in a class appropriately named “Lifetime Sports,” which he created. He exemplified the spirit of Lifetime Sports, continuing to play golf throughout his life.  At age 90, in true Coach Wigle fashion, he birdied the last hole he ever played!

In retirement, Bill and Rosalee split their time between New Meadows Idaho and Surprize Arizona.  They traveled throughout the U.S.A., most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and China. While home, Bill often drove tour buses throughout the Western States, adding his own spin on whatever history the tour guide was reciting.

Bill is survived by his wife, Rosalee, his sister Amy Johannesen, his children: Scott (Cathy), Mike (Pam), Mark, Jim (Vicki), Matt (Jean), Chris (Toni), and Beatte Durlinger an exchange student they hosted and who they consider a part of the family; his grandchildren Morgan, Jessica, Andrea, Zachary, Sydney, Michael and Alison; and by his great grandchildren Emma, Sarah, Quinton, Sloane, Roman, Ava Rose, and Jace.

Condolences may be left for the family at:  www.bowmanfuneral.com

There will be a public Memorial Service on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at 2 pm at the Borah High School Auditorium. 6001 W Cassia St., Boise.

Condolences(16)

  1. REPLY
    Beth Vargason says
    June 23, 2022 at 4:40 pm

    Oh my goodness. I was amazed to see this notice as I have heard the name Coach Wigle spoken fondly in our house for years. My husband Terry played for Coach Wigle in high school, and I’m sure he was helpful in getting Terry drafted by the Yankees after high school. Unfortunately, Terry also passed away last weekend and is unable to offer his own condolences. Thank you coach. May you Rest In Peace.

  2. REPLY
    Jeff Blanc says
    June 24, 2022 at 2:03 pm

    Coach Wigle was one pf the good guys. Great Coach and Mentor and a friend for life. I learned how to treat people by watching him. He was one my favorites at Borah. God bless his family and may he rest in peace. He will be missed. Jeff Blanc

  3. REPLY
    Rick Carringer says
    June 24, 2022 at 9:35 pm

    Coach Wigle helped get me thru high school both as a teacher and coach. He gave me the opportunity to play baseball for Borah. I could never thank him enough. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Rest in Peace Coach. Rick Carringer

    • REPLY
      Dan Hermansen says
      June 27, 2022 at 6:18 pm

      I want to start by offering my prayers to the while family. I started my connection to the Wigle family I think in 1971 when I played baseball coached by Scott. In the spring of 1975, my sophomore year at Borah, Coach Wigle called my into his office and handed my a brand new first basemen’s give to break in during the summer. I told him I play outfield. He said I’m a first baseman now.

      We won the state championship the spring on 1976. From the day I met Coach Wigle he was a fantastic coach,
      mentor, teacher and friend. I took that Lifetime Sports class where we, meaning coach, me and two others skipped class and went golfing.

      I have thought of him often over the years and am thankful for the memories that I have of him.

      Thank you Coach and R.I.P

  4. REPLY
    Bill Jones says
    June 26, 2022 at 9:18 am

    Bill & I lived together at Utah State University while getting our Masters degrees. Good guy.

    • REPLY
      Cindy Anderson says
      June 27, 2022 at 1:48 pm

      May you RIP Coach Wiggle. You were a legend at Borah.

  5. REPLY
    Shannon Page says
    June 27, 2022 at 3:38 pm

    Bill was my study hall teacher when I was a student at Borah; then I went on to teach physical education with Bill for eleven years. He was a great mentor and friend, and I thoroughly enjoyed those years with him. Great memories! I’m thankful Bill had so many wonderful years and adventures in retirement. My sincerest condolences to Rosalee and the family.

  6. REPLY
    Dee Smart says
    June 27, 2022 at 6:57 pm

    Deepest condolences to my dear friend Rosalee. I have such fond memories of the four of us going to dinner and just visiting with each other in Arizona and Idaho. See you soon.

  7. REPLY
    Amy (Gilbert) Hummel says
    June 28, 2022 at 7:16 pm

    May you Rest In Peace Coach Wigle. I loved your Lifetime Sports class. I was a Senior my one & only year at Borah. It was a blast, but most importantly you taught us some safety tips I literally teach my kids today. I loved how laid back & funny you were. Fly with the Angels coach.

  8. REPLY
    Kevin says
    July 3, 2022 at 8:42 am

    Coach Wigle was an amazing coach and just a nice person. I took lifetime sports my senior year and it was easily my favorite class. RIP coach and thank you for being a positive influence at such a young age.

  9. REPLY
    Curtis Stoddard says
    July 3, 2022 at 7:30 pm

    I went to Borah in the ’60s, and although I didn’t play baseball or have Coach as a teacher, I certainly knew and respected him at the time. Some years later, I got to know him much better when I drove long haul trucks for Albertsons. Many might not know that Coach drove for them during summer vacation. Totally out of character for a teacher and coach, right? But he was a heck of a good driver and just as nice a guy in that capacity as when working at school.
    Wigle Field will stand as a memorial for this man for as long as Borah exists…

  10. REPLY
    Marilesta Nelson says
    July 8, 2022 at 11:11 am

    Mrs. Wigle, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time!
    Marilesta Nelson, a former student of yours

  11. REPLY
    Jim Hui says
    July 8, 2022 at 11:01 pm

    The Wigles were like my extended family during my high school years, Coach Wigle was an amazing educator, anyone that had taken Life sports at Borah will tell you it was the funnest and most memorable class that they have ever taken.. Our deepest condolences to the extended Wigle family… The Huis.

  12. REPLY
    Bradford Sparky Sparks says
    July 9, 2022 at 1:33 am

    My thoughts and prayers are with your family. Coach was a very good man as he always had time to talk to me as I had a lot of respect for him as he did me as he always told me to keep holding up my head high and keep looking everyone in the eye as I always do and shack their hand.May he rest in peace.

  13. REPLY
    Beate Durlinger says
    July 13, 2022 at 3:46 pm

    Bill was my host dad when I stayed in Boise as an exchange student from the Netherlands. I couldn’t have wished for a better host family and host dad. He was funny, took me many places, taught me about golf and baseball and we watched many sports games on tv together. At Borah High he was loved by all students and I enjoyed takkng his class. Bill and Rosalee visited me in the Netherlands and we also met up in France and this was always a lot of fun. Good memories to cherish. He will be in my heart forever. My sincere condolences to the whole Wigle family. Best wishes from the Netherlands.

  14. REPLY
    Rob King says
    July 16, 2022 at 6:02 pm

    Bill was such a good man. He was very helpful to me the one year I coached baseball. My dad thought the world of Bill as they coached together the first few years Borah was open.. Bill was a Borah Lion through and through. My prayers are with the Wigle family.

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