John Michael Dildine

John Michael Dildine, D.D.S.

Obituary

John Michael Dildine, D.D.S. passed away suddenly on January 23, 2026 in Loveland, Colorado. John was born to Carl and Alice Dildine in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 3, 1949. He grew up appreciating friends, hard work, good books, music, wild lands, wildlife, clear Northern Minnesota lakes, fly fishing and camping trips to Yellowstone and the Boundary Waters. John greatly enjoyed the family cabin on a Minnesota wilderness lake that abounds in wildlife, including loons, otters and eagles.

John graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota and had very fond memories of his college friends and professors during those years. John met his wife, Christine, at Gustavus his freshman year and they had wonderful mutual memories from college.

During three Summers in college, John worked for Alaska Fish and Game as a Game Warden. This was an experience of a lifetime, as John was flown by bush pilots to remote areas in the Aleutian Islands to guard closed commercial fishing areas. He made two of his arrests from the air. John’s experiences observing wildlife at close range, including huge coastal brown bears, were treasured memories.

John then graduated from the University of Minnesota Dental School and was invited to join a professor’s dental practice in Minnesota after graduation. He joined that practice for almost three years before moving to Loveland, Colorado and buying a dental practice in 1976. He eventually enjoyed designing his own dental office. Dr. Dildine greatly valued his very exceptional, dedicated and long-term staff, who were also considered friends and family. And Dr. Dildine was very fond of his loyal patients, many of whom became friends during his 50 years in Loveland.

Dr. Dildine was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Alice Dildine, a sister, Lois, infant grandson, Weston, two brothers-in-law, Mark Thomas and Lawrence Graham and his in-laws, G. M. “Doc” and Gladys Dahms.

Very Thankful to have shared John’s life are his loving wife, Christine, of 55 years, beloved daughter, Laura Ehle (Aaron), beloved son, Thomas Dildine, cherished granddaughters,

Lily and Juliet Ehle, brothers, Bob Dildine (Fion), Jim Dildine (Victoria), sister, Margaret Thomas, brother-in-law, Dr. Alan Dahms (Polli), sister-in-law, Dahna Graham, sister-in-law, Mary Bierbrauer (Tom) and many loving nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

John Michael Dildine was a very gifted and multi-talented man who enjoyed people and left a legacy of kindness to his family, his friends and to his patients, He will live in our hearts forever.

A private Celebration of Life for John Dildine is planned. However, a casual meet and greet for staff and patients of Dr. Dildine is planned for June 13th at Shelter # 3, which is near Lone Tree School, at 1:00 p.m. at North Lake Park in Loveland.

Kindness was John Dildine’s Legacy. You may wish to honor him by passing on kindness to others. In lieu of flowers, please honor him in another way. You may wish to support the organizations that defend the environment and wildlife that were important to John: Earthjustice, Natural Resources Defense Council or Center for Biological Diversity.