Allan Dominic Dighera

The lives of a former Gwinn, Menominee, Kingsford & Tawas school administrator and his wife who pre-deceased him will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at 10:00am CST at St. Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Kingsford, MI. Fr. Paul Nomellini will offer the Mass of Christian Burial. Graveside services will be held for the couple who were married 48 years and will be interred together for eternity at the Negaunee Cemetery at 4:00pm EST on May 25. Msgr. Peter Oberto will officiate. Allan Dominic Dighera, 81, passed away at his Kingsford, Mi., home Sunday, December 6, 2015. He was predeceased by his wife, the former Nancy LaPlante, on October 28, 2011. A detailed obituary of her life was published at that time. While he was a veteran Superintendent of Schools, volunteer, coach, soldier, innovator in the Michigan State Department of Education, Allan most of all was a dedicated husband and loving father. He led by example, living a life of caring, generosity and unwavering support for his family, friends, students and his “team” which he considered all of the above. Allan will be remembered for his undertaking and accomplishing without fanfare or publicity, whether it was coaching a team to a state championship game, being a combat infantryman during the Korean Conflict or quietly encouraging the neighborhood children by always recognizing them for making the honor roll and saving newspaper clippings for them, when it often meant obtaining extra copies. Born March 11, 1934 in Ishpeming, MI., Allan was the son of the late Dominic and Mildred (Schmid) Dighera. He was graduated from St. Paul High School, Negaunee, MI., in 1952 and upon graduation attended St. Norbert College, DePere, WI., where he played basketball for the Golden Knights for a year before enlisting in the U. S. Army. He was trained at Fort Ord., Ca., prior to being shipped overseas as an Infantry Squad Leader and served his country in 1953-54 in the forward area of the Republic of Korea during the Korean Conflict. Following discharge, Allan enrolled at Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Mi., where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in 1961. He completed his Master’s in Education at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI., in 1963 and continued his Doctoral work at Northern Michigan thereafter. Al and Nancy LaPlante were married on August 31, 1963, at North Lake, MI. The veteran educator’s career started at his Negaunee St. Paul alma mater where, beside his classroom accomplishments, he coached the school’s basketball team to the 1963 State Class D championship game, coming home a runner-up. The team lost the championship game by one point, 59 – 58, in a hard fought contest with Britton-Macon, coached by Sam Hamilton. Allan later went to work for Mott Fellowship in Flint, and the Michigan State Department of Education in Lansing where he formulated statewide policies which remain in place to this day. That latter position had him traveling from Michigan’s Lower Peninsula back to his beloved Upper Peninsula several times a year. After leaving Department of Education employ, Allan assumed administration positions with the Menominee, Gwinn, Tawas Area, and Kingsford School Districts, before closing out his education career in the Allan Park School District administration and returning to his home in Kingsford. As a tribute to hard work and determination, it was a point of personal pride with Allan that he returned as Business Manager/Assistant Superintendent of Schools to the Gwinn School District from 1976 through 1979. More than 20 years earlier while paying his way through college as a Terrazzo and tile layer, he had done the floors and Terrazzo work in the Gwinn District’s Gilbert school. Local maintenance and administration made mention of the fact on occasion with a smile. Allan was a member of St. Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Kingsford serving in various parish capacities, but primarily as a faithful member. He also belonged a host of professional and educational organizations. Besides people, reading and history, Allan enjoyed sports – particularly basketball – and trout fishing so much so he requested his arrangements not interfere with either March Madness or the trout season opener. He also requested services not be held during the winter or spring when friends or family might be forced to travel in unpredictable weather. Allan Dominic Dighera is survived by two sons, Tony (Anthony) Dighera of Lucena City, Quezon The Philippines, and Nick (Dominick) Dighera of lower Michigan; a grandson, Antonin Dighera of Berkeley, Ca.; a brother, David Dighera of Negaunee, Mi.; a sister, Juleen (Richard) Jaeger of New Berlin, Wi.; friend Leigh Ann (Wenzel) Dighera of Kingsford, and several nieces and nephews. Condolences may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home with the arrangements.

Allan Dominic Dighera

March 11, 1934 - December 6, 2015