William K. Deigel, 89, of Meridian, died Friday, March 26th at the VA Nursing Home. Arrangements pending, Summers Funeral Homes, Ustick Chapel, Meridian.
Published in Idaho Statesman on March 27, 2010.
William K. (Bill) Deigel
Friday morning, March 26, 2010, as the clouds parted and the sun shone through, with family at his side, Staff Sergeant Wilhelm Karl Diegel was called to his final formation in front of the Commander in Chief of us all, and welcomed into the open arms of Jesus, joining his parents, eleven brothers and sisters, a granddaughter and the 250 men of L Company, Third Battalion, 417th Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry Division, Third Army, all of whom have gone before him.
Bill was born March 17, 1921 in Hoven, SD, the 9th of 12 children of Johannes (John) and Magdalena (Eisenbeizs) Diegel, German immigrants from Russia. He grew up farming, leaving school after the eighth grade to work on the family farm. In 1942 he was drafted into the US Army, an occasion that defined the rest of his life. He served in the military police at Ft Lewis, WA before being sent to Europe with his unit. He fought valiantly under General Patton through Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany in severe winter weather until he was severely wounded on March 8, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for valor. He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Bill married Arline Huber on May 20, 1944 at Ft Chaffee, AR. Following the War, they returned to ranch in South Dakota, where their two sons, Billy and Michael were born. They later left the ranch and moved to Gettysburg, SD where Bill began a long career as a highly respected auto mechanic, moving to Aberdeen, ID in 1964. He concluded his career at the JR Simplot phosphate plant near Pocatello. In 1997 Bill and Arline moved to Meridian, ID to be near their son Billy during their retirement. Bill loved hunting and fishing and was famous for his battered deep-fried fish, particularly walleye and catfish he had caught. He could repair or build anything mechanical. If he saw a picture or had a description of a device he thought was useful, he'd figure out how to build it, usually out of scrounged materials. He designed, built and gave to many friends a fishing pole holder that would signal a fish on the line.
Bill is survived by his wife of Arline of almost 66 years, who resides in Meridian, ID, also by sons Billy G Diegel (Lucia) of Meridian, Michael L Diegel (Joanne) of Covington, WA and granddaughter Morgan Diegel. He was preceded in death by his parents, 4 sisters, 7 brothers and a granddaughter, Meredith Diegel.
The family is grateful to the caring staff at the Community Living Center of the Boise VAMC, particularly Carol, Melanie and Steve who Bill identified as special people taking care of him.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 3, 2010 at Christ Lutheran Church in Meridian, ID and are under the direction of Summers Funeral Home, Ustick Chapel, Meridian.
Private interment will be at the Idaho Veterans Cemetery Monday, April 5.
Published in Idaho Statesman on March 31, 2010
Published in Idaho Statesman on March 27, 2010.
William K. (Bill) Deigel
Friday morning, March 26, 2010, as the clouds parted and the sun shone through, with family at his side, Staff Sergeant Wilhelm Karl Diegel was called to his final formation in front of the Commander in Chief of us all, and welcomed into the open arms of Jesus, joining his parents, eleven brothers and sisters, a granddaughter and the 250 men of L Company, Third Battalion, 417th Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry Division, Third Army, all of whom have gone before him.
Bill was born March 17, 1921 in Hoven, SD, the 9th of 12 children of Johannes (John) and Magdalena (Eisenbeizs) Diegel, German immigrants from Russia. He grew up farming, leaving school after the eighth grade to work on the family farm. In 1942 he was drafted into the US Army, an occasion that defined the rest of his life. He served in the military police at Ft Lewis, WA before being sent to Europe with his unit. He fought valiantly under General Patton through Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany in severe winter weather until he was severely wounded on March 8, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for valor. He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Bill married Arline Huber on May 20, 1944 at Ft Chaffee, AR. Following the War, they returned to ranch in South Dakota, where their two sons, Billy and Michael were born. They later left the ranch and moved to Gettysburg, SD where Bill began a long career as a highly respected auto mechanic, moving to Aberdeen, ID in 1964. He concluded his career at the JR Simplot phosphate plant near Pocatello. In 1997 Bill and Arline moved to Meridian, ID to be near their son Billy during their retirement. Bill loved hunting and fishing and was famous for his battered deep-fried fish, particularly walleye and catfish he had caught. He could repair or build anything mechanical. If he saw a picture or had a description of a device he thought was useful, he'd figure out how to build it, usually out of scrounged materials. He designed, built and gave to many friends a fishing pole holder that would signal a fish on the line.
Bill is survived by his wife of Arline of almost 66 years, who resides in Meridian, ID, also by sons Billy G Diegel (Lucia) of Meridian, Michael L Diegel (Joanne) of Covington, WA and granddaughter Morgan Diegel. He was preceded in death by his parents, 4 sisters, 7 brothers and a granddaughter, Meredith Diegel.
The family is grateful to the caring staff at the Community Living Center of the Boise VAMC, particularly Carol, Melanie and Steve who Bill identified as special people taking care of him.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 3, 2010 at Christ Lutheran Church in Meridian, ID and are under the direction of Summers Funeral Home, Ustick Chapel, Meridian.
Private interment will be at the Idaho Veterans Cemetery Monday, April 5.
Published in Idaho Statesman on March 31, 2010
William K. Deigel, 89, of Meridian, died Friday, March 26th at the VA Nursing Home. Arrangements pending, Summers Funeral Homes, Ustick Chapel, Meridian.
Published in Idaho Statesman on March 27, 2010.
William K. (Bill) Deigel
Friday morning, March 26, 2010, as the clouds parted and the sun shone through, with family at his side, Staff Sergeant Wilhelm Karl Diegel was called to his final formation in front of the Commander in Chief of us all, and welcomed into the open arms of Jesus, joining his parents, eleven brothers and sisters, a granddaughter and the 250 men of L Company, Third Battalion, 417th Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry Division, Third Army, all of whom have gone before him.
Bill was born March 17, 1921 in Hoven, SD, the 9th of 12 children of Johannes (John) and Magdalena (Eisenbeizs) Diegel, German immigrants from Russia. He grew up farming, leaving school after the eighth grade to work on the family farm. In 1942 he was drafted into the US Army, an occasion that defined the rest of his life. He served in the military police at Ft Lewis, WA before being sent to Europe with his unit. He fought valiantly under General Patton through Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany in severe winter weather until he was severely wounded on March 8, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for valor. He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Bill married Arline Huber on May 20, 1944 at Ft Chaffee, AR. Following the War, they returned to ranch in South Dakota, where their two sons, Billy and Michael were born. They later left the ranch and moved to Gettysburg, SD where Bill began a long career as a highly respected auto mechanic, moving to Aberdeen, ID in 1964. He concluded his career at the JR Simplot phosphate plant near Pocatello. In 1997 Bill and Arline moved to Meridian, ID to be near their son Billy during their retirement. Bill loved hunting and fishing and was famous for his battered deep-fried fish, particularly walleye and catfish he had caught. He could repair or build anything mechanical. If he saw a picture or had a description of a device he thought was useful, he'd figure out how to build it, usually out of scrounged materials. He designed, built and gave to many friends a fishing pole holder that would signal a fish on the line.
Bill is survived by his wife of Arline of almost 66 years, who resides in Meridian, ID, also by sons Billy G Diegel (Lucia) of Meridian, Michael L Diegel (Joanne) of Covington, WA and granddaughter Morgan Diegel. He was preceded in death by his parents, 4 sisters, 7 brothers and a granddaughter, Meredith Diegel.
The family is grateful to the caring staff at the Community Living Center of the Boise VAMC, particularly Carol, Melanie and Steve who Bill identified as special people taking care of him.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 3, 2010 at Christ Lutheran Church in Meridian, ID and are under the direction of Summers Funeral Home, Ustick Chapel, Meridian.
Private interment will be at the Idaho Veterans Cemetery Monday, April 5.
Published in Idaho Statesman on March 31, 2010
Published in Idaho Statesman on March 27, 2010.
William K. (Bill) Deigel
Friday morning, March 26, 2010, as the clouds parted and the sun shone through, with family at his side, Staff Sergeant Wilhelm Karl Diegel was called to his final formation in front of the Commander in Chief of us all, and welcomed into the open arms of Jesus, joining his parents, eleven brothers and sisters, a granddaughter and the 250 men of L Company, Third Battalion, 417th Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry Division, Third Army, all of whom have gone before him.
Bill was born March 17, 1921 in Hoven, SD, the 9th of 12 children of Johannes (John) and Magdalena (Eisenbeizs) Diegel, German immigrants from Russia. He grew up farming, leaving school after the eighth grade to work on the family farm. In 1942 he was drafted into the US Army, an occasion that defined the rest of his life. He served in the military police at Ft Lewis, WA before being sent to Europe with his unit. He fought valiantly under General Patton through Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany in severe winter weather until he was severely wounded on March 8, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for valor. He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Bill married Arline Huber on May 20, 1944 at Ft Chaffee, AR. Following the War, they returned to ranch in South Dakota, where their two sons, Billy and Michael were born. They later left the ranch and moved to Gettysburg, SD where Bill began a long career as a highly respected auto mechanic, moving to Aberdeen, ID in 1964. He concluded his career at the JR Simplot phosphate plant near Pocatello. In 1997 Bill and Arline moved to Meridian, ID to be near their son Billy during their retirement. Bill loved hunting and fishing and was famous for his battered deep-fried fish, particularly walleye and catfish he had caught. He could repair or build anything mechanical. If he saw a picture or had a description of a device he thought was useful, he'd figure out how to build it, usually out of scrounged materials. He designed, built and gave to many friends a fishing pole holder that would signal a fish on the line.
Bill is survived by his wife of Arline of almost 66 years, who resides in Meridian, ID, also by sons Billy G Diegel (Lucia) of Meridian, Michael L Diegel (Joanne) of Covington, WA and granddaughter Morgan Diegel. He was preceded in death by his parents, 4 sisters, 7 brothers and a granddaughter, Meredith Diegel.
The family is grateful to the caring staff at the Community Living Center of the Boise VAMC, particularly Carol, Melanie and Steve who Bill identified as special people taking care of him.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 3, 2010 at Christ Lutheran Church in Meridian, ID and are under the direction of Summers Funeral Home, Ustick Chapel, Meridian.
Private interment will be at the Idaho Veterans Cemetery Monday, April 5.
Published in Idaho Statesman on March 31, 2010
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