Richard Anthony Poirier

Richard Anthony Poirier

January 17, 1942 – January 24, 2026

Richard Anthony “Dick” Poirier, 84, of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away on January 24, 2026.

Dick centered his life on his wife, Irene, and his family. He was known for his sense of humor and love of joking, always keeping the mood light for his family and friends. He will be remembered for his warmth, generosity, and unwavering dedication to those he loved.

Dick was born and raised in the small town of Faribault, Minnesota, the son of Earl John Poirier, a pharmacist who owned a small drugstore, and Sylene Gingras Poirier. He grew up in a close-knit family and was the youngest of seven children.

He met the love of his life, Irene, in high school, and they wed on August 25, 1962. Sons Daniel Earl and David Raymond arrived in 1963 and 1965. Richard was devoted to his faith and raised his children in the Catholic tradition.

He served in the Minnesota National Guard for four years. Dick earned a degree in mortuary science and began working as a mortician. After several years, he became a commercial insurance underwriter. In 1971, he was transferred to Nashville, Tennessee, where he remained for the rest of his life, continuing in insurance until his retirement in 2000.

After retiring, he volunteered for many years at a local hospital and helped people with their income taxes. He also loved woodworking in his downtime. He spent countless hours in his garage crafting projects for family and friends. Always ready with a joke or story, he generously shared both his skill and his humor with everyone he knew.

Dick and Irene moved to an assisted living community in 2016. Even after Irene no longer recognized him, Dick spent every day by her side until his final illness.

Dick was devoted to his family and is survived by his wife Irene; sons Dan (Elizabeth) and David (Deborah); grandchildren Hunter Poirier, Hannah Hickman, and Hayden Poirier; and great-grandchildren Liam and Oaklynn Hickman and Kai Poirier. He is also survived by his siblings Bob, Tom, Marilyn, and Geraldine. He was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Sylene Poirier and his siblings John and Eunice.

A visitation and memorial service will be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church on March 13, 2026. Visitation will be at 9:00 am and mass will follow at 10:00 am. The burial will be held at Calvary Cemetery immediately following mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Association of Frontotemporal Dementia.

Donations can be made using the following link:

https://www.theaftd.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/