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01/23/2024 - Emmett, Idaho, USA

Frank Aguirre, 97, of Emmett, Idaho passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on January 23, 2024, with his family by his side. He lived a long fulfilling life blessed with many family and friends.

Frank was born on October 27, 1926 in Zeberio, Spain to Marcos Aguirre and Maria Ignacia Aldeiturriaga. In 1954 he seized the opportunity to immigrate to America where he secured an honest and hardworking job in Blackfoot, Idaho herding sheep for the Harry Katseanes Sheep Company.  With his agile mind he quickly learned the English language and American ways.  He loved America for its abundance of opportunities that rewarded everyone that was willing to work hard. 

After 10 years in southern Idaho, Frank returned to the Basque Country and at a friends’ wedding, met and fell in love with a beautiful lady named Nieves Arana. Frank returned to America to apply for and gain his citizenship so that he could return to Spain to marry Nieves and bring her back with him to America.  They were married on October 24th,1964 and after a three-month honeymoon in southern Spain, made their first home in a sheep camp wagon in Blackfoot, Idaho.  

Frank was given the opportunity to become foreman for a different sheep company and shortly thereafter moved to Emmett, Idaho.  In Emmett, Frank went to work for the Soulen Livestock Company, where he was their sheep foreman for the next 30 plus years, with Nieves by his side each day.  

Their first daughter, Teresa was born on March 5th, 1966, and their second daughter Susan, was born on June 9th, 1973.

Summers saw the sheep moving up to the Valley County’s high-country range.  Frank, based in McCall during the summer months was often a father figure to the young and far-away from-home herders, most importantly Cesar Ayllon, who later became the foreman for the company.  

The family has many fond memories of helping to herd sheep, checking base with herders, shipping sheep each fall and many gatherings at the camps.  Frank was a hard worker with integrity and commitment to his family and instilled in them the importance of honesty, hard work and compassion in all aspects of life. 

Frank is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Angel and Antolin and his sisters, Josephina and Marie.

Frank is survived by his loving wife, Nieves Arana Aguirre; his two children, Teresa (Dennis) Martin and Susan (Bud) Griffith; 5 grandchildren Alyssa, Nekane, Cody, Lorea and Dillon; 4 great grandchildren, Amaia, Aidan, Mason and Nilah and his sisters in Spain, Carmen and Dominga.  

There will be a Rosary at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Monday, January 29, 2024 at 10:30 AM, with funeral Mass directly after starting at 11:00 AM, followed by a luncheon reception in the church hall.  All are invited to join the family for lunch and share stories of this great man!

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital at Donate now to St. Jude and help kids fighting cancer - St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org)

Dad - you turned nothing into something and gave us everything!  You are in our hearts forever!

(published in PotterChapel.com)