Gerald W. Dietrich

Gerald W. Dietrich
1736 North Gillett Street
Appleton

Age 71, passed away Wednesday morning, June 11, 2003. He was born January 12, 1932, to the late Alvin and Irene (Ohm) Dietrich, in Appleton, where he was a resident all of his life. Gerald served with the U. S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He had been employed by Riverside Paper Company for 44 years, retiring in 1994. Gerald loved to ride his motorcycle, read and listen to the news. He is survived by his wife, Marion I. (Kearn) Dietrich, whom he married on April 28, 1956; three children, Gail M. and Scott Kuehl, Appleton; Zane W. Dietrich, Appleton; Rod A. Dietrich, Appleton; four grandchildren, Amanda Dietrich, Trevor and Alexa Kuehl, Jakob Dietrich; a great grandson, Elijah Murphy; four brothers-in-law, William (Marlene) Kearn, Appleton; Gordon (Joyce) Kearn, Appleton; Robert (Joan) Kearn, Amberg; Donald Blohm, New London; five sisters-in-law, Mildred Boushley, Neenah; Geraldine (Roger) Heling, Appleton; Ione Reffke, Appleton; Carol (Jerry) Young, Appleton; Edith Kearn, Neenah; and many, many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Shirley Blohm, three sisters-in-law, Dorothy (Bob) Moon, Bernice (Clarence) Hostettler, Eleanor Boettcher, three brothers-in-law, Clyde Kearn, Donald Kearn, Kenneth Kearn. Funeral services for Gerald will be held 3:00 pm, Friday, June 13, 2003, at the funeral home, with Jordan Kuczwara, Hospice Chaplain, officiating. Burial will be in Appleton Highland Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home from 1:00 pm, Friday, until the time of the service. A memorial fund is being established.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of ThedaCare at Home Hospice.

I’m Free
Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free;
I’m following the path God laid for me.
I took His hand when I heard Him call;
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way;
I found that place at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;
Ah yes, these things, I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow;
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s been full, I savored much;
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief;
Lift up your heart and share with me;
God wanted me now,
He set me free.

WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME
537 North Superior Street
Appleton 739-1231
www.wichmannfuneralhomes.com