William Dillon Flaherty

William Dillon Flaherty, Sr., 95, passed to heaven on May 18, 2024 to be reunited with his loving wife, Alyce, and his children Bryan, Brigid, and Brendan. Dillon was born in Superior, Wisconsin in 1928, the eldest of Patrick and Blanche Flaherty. Dillon was a child of the great depression and learned the virtue of both hard work and faith at an early age, but also appreciated the value of having fun in life’s simpler offerings. These qualities—work, faith, fun, and family—became the hallmark of his long life in Duluth, Minnesota where he built himself into a successful business owner, long-time parishioner of Holy Rosary, devoted family man, and loyal friend to many.

In 10^th grade Dillon met the love of his life, Alyce Wille, from whom he would be inseparable and ardently committed for 76 years until her death in August of 2022. The couple married in 1947, when Dillon was 18 and Alyce 17. The next year they started a family that would extend to 9 children, all born within seventeen years; 24 grandchildren; and 36 great-grandchildren.

Dillon started in construction at his father-in-law’s company, Wille Construction, eventually working his way from day-laborer to partner in the firm. His work often brought him to sites throughout the Dakotas, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, earning him a reputation as a tough but fair-minded boss. Despite work requiring him to be out of town often, devotion to his wife and family was never in question. He met his responsibilities to put food on the table, attend family gatherings, and both sternly discipline and lovingly nurture his children. In 1962, Dillon and two of his close friends built and opened the first Perkins restaurant in Duluth while he continued to work in construction for another ten years. He soon took over management of the London Road restaurant full-time, and through hard-work, entrepreneurial drive, and a willingness to take risks, he ended up owning 9 Perkins restaurants, reaching throughout the Northland and as far as Florida.

With all this hard work came much fun. Dillon and Alyce were avid travelers whether on a cross country road trip with the kids in tow, canoeing and camping with good friends, or exploring Europe, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Americas, they engaged with local people and lands with a respectful curiosity and spirit of adventure. Dillon’s genuine interest in others’ lives, vocations, and views also was reflected closer to home. Dillon enjoyed spending time with his children’s friends—often becoming friends with them himself—as well as members of the clergy, his neighbors, and fellow business leaders.

Dillon was a man most proud of his role as father and husband. With great vision and persistence he and Alyce founded and cultivated the Flaherty family compound at Lake Nancy in northwest Wisconsin, a legacy for their family to enjoy for generations. We will remember him as a generous, purposeful, and loving father.

Dillon was preceded in death by his wife Alyce, beloved daughter Brigid (at age 5), sons Bryan and Brendan; daughter-in-law Susan; and brother Kevin. He is survived by children Terry (Patti), Tim, Beth (Tony) Rush, Dillon Jr. (Judy Goar), Sean (Mary Nyquist), and Kieran (Mark Higgins); daughters-in-law Betty Flaherty and Carrie Flaherty; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his sister Callista; sisters-in-law and close friends Mary Jo Jensen and Kay Wille; and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will celebrate Dillon’s life on Friday, June 7, 2024, at 11:00am at the Cathedral of our Lady of the Rosary, 2801 E 4^th St. Duluth, Minnesota with a Visitation beginning at 10:00am. 

 Memorials preferred to Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, https://www.duluthcathedral.com/giving-opportunities 

Livestreamed Link:  https://www.duluthcathedral.com/cathedral-livestream