(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)Edwin “Paul” Dieckhoff passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday August 14th.
He was born August 4, 1934 to EH Dieckhoff and Anna (Pape) Dieckhoff.
He went to high school and college at Concordia Teachers College in Seward Nebraska. He received his Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia.
He married his wife Gladys on August 21, 1955. His first teaching job was at the Lutheran High School in St. Louis MO. In 1960, he moved to Diamond and began his teaching career here. He stayed at Diamond and retired after 31 years of teaching. He then went on to teach History at Crowder College for 23 more years.
Paul had a love for History and this was conveyed to all the students he taught. Many of his students said that he made learning history fun. His children remember every family vacation had to include a trip to a historical monument. In the summer, he ran a tree-trimming business to help support his wife Gladys and his five children. He was also a school bus driver as well as a teacher. Many students fondly remember senior trips that were taken where he and Gladys were the senior sponsors. He was loved fondly by his students and they remember his bright smile and his encouragement to them and how he sincerely wanted them to succeed.
Paul loved the small community of Diamond MO. He was a member of the Diamond Lions Club as their Treasurer for over 40 years. He was always participating in any event they had and gave generously of his time and efforts to the community. One of his dreams was to donate land to the City for them to use for whatever was needed. In 1985, Paul and Gladys donated 17 acres to the City. Senior Apartments were the first thing that were built and he was the President of the Housing board until 2020. In 2012, plans were made to build a City park with the rest of the land. The City decided to name it Dieckhoff Park in honor of their gift.
Paul was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church. He was a Sunday School teacher and Choir Director for many, many years. He also served as an Elder of the Church. He loved the Lord and served the Lord daily and this showed throughout his life. He had a compassionate heart and donated to many charities.
He is survived by his loving wife, Gladys of 66 years; his five children, Cynthia Powers and husband Tim of Diamond, MO; Kathryn Rakes and husband Mark of Seneca, MO; Timothy Dieckhoff and wife Barbara of Pierce City, MO; Gary Dieckhoff and wife Denise of Joplin, MO; Deborah Cash and husband Alan of Diamond, MO; eighteen grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren; sister Dorothy Paul and husband Robert; ; Phillip (Phil) Dieckhoff and wife Charlotte; brother Robert (Bob) Dieckhoff and wife Rosemarie; brother Thomas (Tom) Dieckhoff. He was preceded in death by his parents EH Dieckhoff and Anna Dieckhoff and one granddaughter Lindsey Dieckhoff.
A family visitation will be held Wednesday, August 18th from 5 pm to 7 pm at Diamond Middle School Gymnasium. The funeral services will be held Friday, August 20th at 2 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, Freistatt MO.
Memorial contributions should be made out to the Dieckhoff Family Trust Memorial Account in care of Mason Woodard Mortuary.
Paul had a love for History and this was conveyed to all the students he taught. Many of his students said that he made learning history fun. His children remember every family vacation had to include a trip to a historical monument. In the summer, he ran a tree-trimming business to help support his wife Gladys and his five children. He was also a school bus driver as well as a teacher. Many students fondly remember senior trips that were taken where he and Gladys were the senior sponsors. He was loved fondly by his students and they remember his bright smile and his encouragement to them and how he sincerely wanted them to succeed.
Paul loved the small community of Diamond MO. He was a member of the Diamond Lions Club as their Treasurer for over 40 years. He was always participating in any event they had and gave generously of his time and efforts to the community. One of his dreams was to donate land to the City for them to use for whatever was needed. In 1985, Paul and Gladys donated 17 acres to the City. Senior Apartments were the first thing that were built and he was the President of the Housing board until 2020. In 2012, plans were made to build a City park with the rest of the land. The City decided to name it Dieckhoff Park in honor of their gift.
Paul was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church. He was a Sunday School teacher and Choir Director for many, many years. He also served as an Elder of the Church. He loved the Lord and served the Lord daily and this showed throughout his life. He had a compassionate heart and donated to many charities.
He is survived by his loving wife, Gladys of 66 years; his five children, Cynthia Powers and husband Tim of Diamond, MO; Kathryn Rakes and husband Mark of Seneca, MO; Timothy Dieckhoff and wife Barbara of Pierce City, MO; Gary Dieckhoff and wife Denise of Joplin, MO; Deborah Cash and husband Alan of Diamond, MO; eighteen grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren; sister Dorothy Paul and husband Robert; ; Phillip (Phil) Dieckhoff and wife Charlotte; brother Robert (Bob) Dieckhoff and wife Rosemarie; brother Thomas (Tom) Dieckhoff. He was preceded in death by his parents EH Dieckhoff and Anna Dieckhoff and one granddaughter Lindsey Dieckhoff.
A family visitation will be held Wednesday, August 18th from 5 pm to 7 pm at Diamond Middle School Gymnasium. The funeral services will be held Friday, August 20th at 2 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, Freistatt MO.
Memorial contributions should be made out to the Dieckhoff Family Trust Memorial Account in care of Mason Woodard Mortuary.
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