DeKALB – Robert Joseph Diedrich, 90, of DeKalb, Ill., died Monday, Nov. 5, 2012.
Bob was proud to be the first baby born at St. Mary's Hospital in DeKalb, on Oct. 12, 1922. He was the son of Fred and Clara (Driscoll) Diedrich. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Infantry 78th Lightning Division. Later, he was transferred to the 8th Army Air Force unit in Shrewsbury, England. While stationed in England, he met a young Welsh nurse, Annie Gwyneth Jones. On Feb. 20, 1945, Bob made Gwyn his wife. They were lovingly married for 52 years. Gwyn passed away in 1997. Later he married Phyllis (Malsich) Cavanaugh, who survives him.
Bob was a lifelong farmer, working into his 80s on the home farm on Webster Road in DeKalb. He was an extremely hard worker, which was a good thing as he and Gwyn had 11 children to feed and raise. No matter how hard he worked, he always had time to shoot a basket or play catch at the end of the work day. He set high standards and expected for his kids to meet them. To say he raised a strong, yet tight-knit and loving family would be an understatement. There was nothing he enjoyed more than to spend time with his kids celebrating a family gathering with a "big feed." Most recently, he was feted at a 90th birthday party – an event he had been planning for several years: It was a great time. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, innate charm and his kindness. He demonstrated these qualities and many more as a tender and loving caregiver for both his wives.
Bob is survived by his wife, Phyllis; children, Sarah (Gary) McMahon, Linda (Ray) Heinisch, Robert (Andrea) Diedrich, Jane (Bob) Rosemier, Theresa (Michael) Brown, Victoria (Christopher) Cosby, Paul (Star) Diedrich, Ann Diedrich, Patrick (Mary Ann) Diedrich and Michael (Lisa Smith) Diedrich; stepdaughters, Caren (Allen) Roush, Georgia (Bill) Stanley and Cindy Cavanaugh; 16 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister, Mary Margaret Carpenter; brothers, Loras and John (Donna).
He was predeceased by a daughter, Diane Mary; siblings, Eileen Gillen and Art Diedrich; and numerous sisters- and brothers-in-law.
The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 321 Pine St., DeKalb, with the Rev. Kenneth Anderson celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, DeKalb. Friends can call from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, at Anderson Funeral Home, DeKalb.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Robert J. Diedrich Memorial Fund, in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 S. Fourth St., DeKalb, IL 60115.
For information call 815-756-1022.
Published in Daily Chronicle and The MidWeek on November 7, 2012
Bob was proud to be the first baby born at St. Mary's Hospital in DeKalb, on Oct. 12, 1922. He was the son of Fred and Clara (Driscoll) Diedrich. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Infantry 78th Lightning Division. Later, he was transferred to the 8th Army Air Force unit in Shrewsbury, England. While stationed in England, he met a young Welsh nurse, Annie Gwyneth Jones. On Feb. 20, 1945, Bob made Gwyn his wife. They were lovingly married for 52 years. Gwyn passed away in 1997. Later he married Phyllis (Malsich) Cavanaugh, who survives him.
Bob was a lifelong farmer, working into his 80s on the home farm on Webster Road in DeKalb. He was an extremely hard worker, which was a good thing as he and Gwyn had 11 children to feed and raise. No matter how hard he worked, he always had time to shoot a basket or play catch at the end of the work day. He set high standards and expected for his kids to meet them. To say he raised a strong, yet tight-knit and loving family would be an understatement. There was nothing he enjoyed more than to spend time with his kids celebrating a family gathering with a "big feed." Most recently, he was feted at a 90th birthday party – an event he had been planning for several years: It was a great time. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, innate charm and his kindness. He demonstrated these qualities and many more as a tender and loving caregiver for both his wives.
Bob is survived by his wife, Phyllis; children, Sarah (Gary) McMahon, Linda (Ray) Heinisch, Robert (Andrea) Diedrich, Jane (Bob) Rosemier, Theresa (Michael) Brown, Victoria (Christopher) Cosby, Paul (Star) Diedrich, Ann Diedrich, Patrick (Mary Ann) Diedrich and Michael (Lisa Smith) Diedrich; stepdaughters, Caren (Allen) Roush, Georgia (Bill) Stanley and Cindy Cavanaugh; 16 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister, Mary Margaret Carpenter; brothers, Loras and John (Donna).
He was predeceased by a daughter, Diane Mary; siblings, Eileen Gillen and Art Diedrich; and numerous sisters- and brothers-in-law.
The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 321 Pine St., DeKalb, with the Rev. Kenneth Anderson celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, DeKalb. Friends can call from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, at Anderson Funeral Home, DeKalb.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Robert J. Diedrich Memorial Fund, in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 S. Fourth St., DeKalb, IL 60115.
For information call 815-756-1022.
Published in Daily Chronicle and The MidWeek on November 7, 2012
DeKALB – Robert Joseph Diedrich, 90, of DeKalb, Ill., died Monday, Nov. 5, 2012.
Bob was proud to be the first baby born at St. Mary's Hospital in DeKalb, on Oct. 12, 1922. He was the son of Fred and Clara (Driscoll) Diedrich. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Infantry 78th Lightning Division. Later, he was transferred to the 8th Army Air Force unit in Shrewsbury, England. While stationed in England, he met a young Welsh nurse, Annie Gwyneth Jones. On Feb. 20, 1945, Bob made Gwyn his wife. They were lovingly married for 52 years. Gwyn passed away in 1997. Later he married Phyllis (Malsich) Cavanaugh, who survives him.
Bob was a lifelong farmer, working into his 80s on the home farm on Webster Road in DeKalb. He was an extremely hard worker, which was a good thing as he and Gwyn had 11 children to feed and raise. No matter how hard he worked, he always had time to shoot a basket or play catch at the end of the work day. He set high standards and expected for his kids to meet them. To say he raised a strong, yet tight-knit and loving family would be an understatement. There was nothing he enjoyed more than to spend time with his kids celebrating a family gathering with a "big feed." Most recently, he was feted at a 90th birthday party – an event he had been planning for several years: It was a great time. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, innate charm and his kindness. He demonstrated these qualities and many more as a tender and loving caregiver for both his wives.
Bob is survived by his wife, Phyllis; children, Sarah (Gary) McMahon, Linda (Ray) Heinisch, Robert (Andrea) Diedrich, Jane (Bob) Rosemier, Theresa (Michael) Brown, Victoria (Christopher) Cosby, Paul (Star) Diedrich, Ann Diedrich, Patrick (Mary Ann) Diedrich and Michael (Lisa Smith) Diedrich; stepdaughters, Caren (Allen) Roush, Georgia (Bill) Stanley and Cindy Cavanaugh; 16 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister, Mary Margaret Carpenter; brothers, Loras and John (Donna).
He was predeceased by a daughter, Diane Mary; siblings, Eileen Gillen and Art Diedrich; and numerous sisters- and brothers-in-law.
The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 321 Pine St., DeKalb, with the Rev. Kenneth Anderson celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, DeKalb. Friends can call from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, at Anderson Funeral Home, DeKalb.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Robert J. Diedrich Memorial Fund, in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 S. Fourth St., DeKalb, IL 60115.
For information call 815-756-1022.
Published in Daily Chronicle and The MidWeek on November 7, 2012
Bob was proud to be the first baby born at St. Mary's Hospital in DeKalb, on Oct. 12, 1922. He was the son of Fred and Clara (Driscoll) Diedrich. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Infantry 78th Lightning Division. Later, he was transferred to the 8th Army Air Force unit in Shrewsbury, England. While stationed in England, he met a young Welsh nurse, Annie Gwyneth Jones. On Feb. 20, 1945, Bob made Gwyn his wife. They were lovingly married for 52 years. Gwyn passed away in 1997. Later he married Phyllis (Malsich) Cavanaugh, who survives him.
Bob was a lifelong farmer, working into his 80s on the home farm on Webster Road in DeKalb. He was an extremely hard worker, which was a good thing as he and Gwyn had 11 children to feed and raise. No matter how hard he worked, he always had time to shoot a basket or play catch at the end of the work day. He set high standards and expected for his kids to meet them. To say he raised a strong, yet tight-knit and loving family would be an understatement. There was nothing he enjoyed more than to spend time with his kids celebrating a family gathering with a "big feed." Most recently, he was feted at a 90th birthday party – an event he had been planning for several years: It was a great time. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, innate charm and his kindness. He demonstrated these qualities and many more as a tender and loving caregiver for both his wives.
Bob is survived by his wife, Phyllis; children, Sarah (Gary) McMahon, Linda (Ray) Heinisch, Robert (Andrea) Diedrich, Jane (Bob) Rosemier, Theresa (Michael) Brown, Victoria (Christopher) Cosby, Paul (Star) Diedrich, Ann Diedrich, Patrick (Mary Ann) Diedrich and Michael (Lisa Smith) Diedrich; stepdaughters, Caren (Allen) Roush, Georgia (Bill) Stanley and Cindy Cavanaugh; 16 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister, Mary Margaret Carpenter; brothers, Loras and John (Donna).
He was predeceased by a daughter, Diane Mary; siblings, Eileen Gillen and Art Diedrich; and numerous sisters- and brothers-in-law.
The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 321 Pine St., DeKalb, with the Rev. Kenneth Anderson celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, DeKalb. Friends can call from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, at Anderson Funeral Home, DeKalb.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Robert J. Diedrich Memorial Fund, in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 S. Fourth St., DeKalb, IL 60115.
For information call 815-756-1022.
Published in Daily Chronicle and The MidWeek on November 7, 2012
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