Leonard Paul Diederichs, 93, of Dubuque, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, November 15, 2018, at Manor Care.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, November 20TH at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, where Military Honors will be conducted by the Dubuque Marine Corps League immediately following. A visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Monday at the Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Funeral Home 2659 John F. Kennedy Road and from 10-10:45 a.m., Tuesday at the church. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Memorial Cemetery in Perham, Minnesota.
He was born August 21, 1925, in Perham, Minnesota, to Henry and Frieda (Seedorf) Diederichs and grew up on a farm on Wolf Lake near Dent, Minnesota. He lived with his parents, Frieda (Seedorf) and Henry Diederichs and his grandparents, Helena (Mangelman) and John Diederichs where German was spoken at home. After meeting at John Deere, Leonard married Deloris Diederichs (Fisk) at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Dubuque, Iowa; She preceded him in death in May 1999.
Leonard was a World War II Paratrooper, Private, and Sergeant from 1944-1946 where he received a Silver Star for his courageous behavior during combat conditions in Germany. He was the valedictorian of his graduating class at Perham High School and received a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Minnesota. For the majority of his career he worked at John Deere in Dubuque starting in 1958. Leonard retired from John Deere in 1982 and has been an active volunteer for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) since 1984, making him the longest serving volunteer with 34 years of volunteer service.
He also was an extremely active member of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Dubuque where he became a member on May 12, 1958. He served as financial secretary and treasurer and on numerous committees over the years and was truly committed to his church community. During his life he also was very involved with politics, was an avid reader, and walked two miles a day. Over the past 15 years, every summer and Christmas you would find Leonard in Florida enjoying the beach, cruises and time with his daughter, granddaughter and his large group of Central Florida family and friends.
Surviving Leonard, are his son, Brett Diederichs, of Dubuque; daughter, Nicolle Boujaber-Diederichs; granddaughter, Nourah Boujaber-Diederichs, both of Orlando, Florida; and his brother Alvin (Carol) Diederichs of Dent, Minnesota.
He was also preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Ruth Slipher.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.egelhofsiegertcasper.com.
Memorials in Len’s name may be made to St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dubuque, Iowa.
Special thank you to Hospice of Dubuque and Manor Care for their compassionate care.