Ralph G Dietzel

Ralph G. Dietzel, USN Ret. of Jefferson City, Mo., passed away Wednesday, March 6, 2013, at the Arbors at Westbrook Terrace. Ralph was born March 31, 1923, near Jamestown, Mo., the son of Clarence Dietzel and Florence Nickles Dietzel. He was married on November 13, 1976, in Jefferson City, Mo., to Audrey C. Kliethermes Jenkins. After graduating high school in Prairie Home, Mo., he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and served until 1942. He joined the Naval Air Reserve in 1942 and was a commissioned officer by age 20. Ralph served proudly as a pilot and flight instructor in the United States Navy during World War II. He continued in active duty with the US Naval Reserve until the early 1960's. Ralph was a long standing member of the American Legion. Ralph worked for International Harvester in Memphis during the early 1950's and then with the US Civil Aeronautic Administration as an air traffic control tower operator in Miami in the late fifties and early 1960. He then worked with the United States Department of Agriculture in Jefferson City until retirement in 1986. Ralph's compassion, generosity, ingenuity, humor, patience, story telling and trailblazing endeared him to family, friends and neighbors old and new. He will be greatly missed. Survivors include: his wife, Audrey Dietzel; one son, Dennis G. Dietzel and his wife Anna of Jefferson City, Mo.; three daughters, Terina Holcombe and her husband Ron of Jefferson City, Mo., Tracy Dietzel and her partner Mary-Elizabeth (M.E.) Pasquesi of Wisconsin, and Terri Morris of Virginia; one step-son, Jerry Jenkins and his wife Jackie of Jefferson City, Mo.; one step-daughter, Joyce Jenkins of Taos, Mo.; his former wife, Norma Winford of Vienna, Mo.; two sisters, Mary Dietzel Watko of Florida and Jean Dietzel Batchelor and her husband John of Kirksville, Mo.; three brothers, Charles Dietzel and his wife Dorine of Virginia, Russell Dietzel and his wife Hattie of Washington, and Wilbur Dietzel and his wife Sandra of California, Mo.; four grandchildren, Jamie Higgins, Chris Higgins, Jessica Schmidt, and Jesse Crowe; two step-grandchildren, Josh Jenkins and Janet Jenkins; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Darryl Dietzel; and one sister, Eleanor Dietzel Hillebrand. Visitation will be at Freeman Mortuary from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 8, 2013, with military honors to be conducted at 4:45 p.m. Friday in the Freeman Chapel. A memorial service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 9, 2013, at the Liberty Road Baptist Church with the Reverend Kim Smith and the Reverend Noah Angel officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Disabled American Veterans or Hospice Compassus. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary. www.freemanmortuary.com