Carl William Werner Didde, 98, of Emporia, KS, passed away on Sun- day, April 21, 2013 at Menorah Medi- cal Center. Visitation 6:30-8:30pm Sunday, April 28, McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO with the rosary at 7:30pm. A Mass of Christian Burial 10:30am April 29, Sacred Heart Church, 102 Cottonwood, Emporia, KS. Memorial contributions may be made to the Didde Catholic Campus Center, 1415 Merchant Street, Emporia, KS 66801, or may be sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, 605 State Street, Emporia, KS 66801. Carl was a gentle man of faith and an entrepreneur at heart. He loved his family above all else and left a legacy of hard work, generosity and love. Carl never stopped thinking, planning, or praying. He was a blessing to all who knew him, and was loved by many. Carl was born on February 12, 1915 to John and Catherine Noll Didde on the family farm in Nortonville, KS. He attended Nortonville High School, and moved to Emporia in 1936 to work as a "printer's devil". He mar- ried Teresa Specht in 1942, and they had three children: Kathy, Teri, and David. Carl started the Didde Pub- lishing Company in 1946 to print and publish sermon books by Msgr. Ar- thur Tonne. Realizing there was a need for collating equipment in the graphic arts industry, he developed the Speed-Klect Collator in 1953 with Don Glaser. By 1967, the com- pany was one of the largest home owned Kansas-based employers. As his career progressed, Didde- Glaser which became Didde Graphic Systems and Didde Corporation, manufactured printing equipment which was sold worldwide. At one point the company had over 1,000 employees. Carl continued his fasci- nation with the printing and book binding industry until his death, re- ceiving a patent at the age of 94 for a book binding method he invented in his 90's. Carl served on many boards such as National Printing Equipment and Supply Association, Kansas Power and Light Company, Kansas State Chamber of Commerce, Emporia Chamber of Commerce, St. Mary's Hospital, Emporia United Way, Citi- zens National Bank, International Trade Council, Emporia Enterprises, Flint Hills Area Health Planning Council, Emporia Country Club, Didde Corporation, and Didde Office Supply and Printing, where he often held leadership positions. He also held several leadership positions at Sacred Heart Church, in the Knight of Columbus, and on the Emporia State University Board of Trustees, and was a founding director of the Emporia Community Foundation. Carl was the founder of the Didde WorkPLACE Program co-sponsored by Didde Corporation and the National Association of Printers and Lithographers. The WorkPLACE Program is a training and certification program for students and workers in the printing trade. In 1994 Carl received the Soder- strom Award for lifetime achieve- ment in the printing industry from the National Association of Printers and Lithographers. He was also a member of the Soderstrom Society. In 1980, under Carl's leadership, Didde Corporation was the Kansas Exporter of the Year. Carl and Teresa were active philan- thropists as benefactors of the Didde Catholic Campus Center adja- cent to the Emporia State University Campus. Among many donations, they funded the majority of the con- struction costs of the Immaculate Conception Mission Church in Creede, CO, and donated a CAT scanner to St. Mary's Hospital in Em- poria. Carl was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Teresa Didde and his siblings Clara Schmidt, Gertrude Schneider, Bernadette Johnson, Bernard Didde, Ed Didde, Leona Wehrle, John Didde and grand- daughter Channing Killip. He is sur- vived by his sister Doris Foster and his children and their spouses, John and Kathy Killip of Kansas City, MO; Rick and Teri Inman of Creede, CO; and David and Joyce Didde of Lea- wood, KS; grandchildren Whitney Killip Ullrich(Klaus), Brielle Killip, Wyeth Killip, Keelia Killip, Laura In- man Mitchell (Amelia), Kyle In- man(Cara), Chelsea Didde, and Ryan Didde, and great-grandchildren Charlotte and Henry Ullrich. Carl's family is deeply grateful to Debbie Lawson, Bev Laws, and Mike Stuchlik for their dedication to and loving care of Carl for many, many years. Thank you also to the staff of Villa St. Joseph for their care of and friendship to Carl during the last 3 years. Carl loved life, especially fishing up the creek at his beloved Little Squaw Resort in Colorado, or telling his family or coworkers about his latest invention. His smile was con- tagious, his energy boundless, and his faith eternal. We miss him so much. Condolences may be left on- line at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com M
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Mr. Diddie was such a kind man and employer. I worked a brief time as a switchboard receptionist part of 1993 and 1994 and he loved the hybiscus tree we had in the front foyer. He always spoke and had a sweet smile. I know he is greatly missed and even though I just found out he passed I would like to send my condolences and prayers to his family, friends, and coworkers and I truly believe he is in Gods glory and all his magnificents . GOD BLESS
Brandy Marrero
January 26, 2014
Kathy,
I will always remember your parents.
Love, Douy
Douy Swofford
September 20, 2013
We were so sorry to read of Carl's passing. May he rest in peace.
Print & Finishing Equipment, Inc.
Maple Hill, KS
May 6, 2013
God Bless Carl and our thoughts are with the Didde family. I only met Carl once but that was enough to know he was a good and honest man to work with. We built our business over the last 30 plus years with Didde machines and to this day love that we are using Great American made machines.
Rest in peace Carl..
Paul Featherston...(Champ Direct- Milford Ct)
Paul Featherston
May 3, 2013
May God Bless the Didde Family during this difficult time. I remember many greetings and visits with Carl and Theresa at Sacred Heart and St. Theresa Chapel on ESU campus . The gifts that they so generously gave to Emporia and their forward visionary skills will live on through the Catholic Church and through Emporia State University.
Sharon Soetaert
April 29, 2013
Dear Kathy and all your family,
How blessed you are to have had such a dear, loving Father. I was so happy to have met him oh so many years ago in Emporia when you and I were roommates, Kathy. I had the pleasure of spending Thanksgiving with you and your family. May his soul be at peace with our heavenly Father. GOD bless you all. With love and hugs,
Sandy and David Spaw
April 26, 2013
I worked for Didde Corp. for 14 years and
will always remember Carl as a true gentleman. It is a pleasure to have known
and worked with such a great man.
Gary Neilan
April 26, 2013
Our thoughts and prayers to the Didde Family,
After reading Carl's obituary, I realized that his mother and my Grandfather, John Domann,son of William and Charlotte(Noll) Domann were first cousins. Also my husband's uncle, Michael Penning, married Martina Leiker. Georgina,Carl's sister in law,is Martina's sister.
He must have been a wonderful person.
Our sincere sympathy
Patsy and Louie Penning
April 26, 2013
I worked for Mr. and Mrs Didde, trimming their trees, Mr Didde was wonderful to work for. I remember one time I had to move a bird bath to trim a tree, when I got done I put the top of the bird bath on the pedestal, Mrs Didde could immediately tell it was not level, so she yelled for Mr. Didde to get the level out sure enough it was about a 1/2 inch leaning in one direction, Mr Didde just smiled like he would and helped me get it level. Another time I came to the back door and I heard a vacuum cleaner going, and I peeked in and Mr Didde was running the vacuum, I couldn't believe the owner of a large company running a vacuum cleaner. Mr. Didde remained very humble never letting success go to his head, he treated people fairly and honestly and will always have great respect for him. My condolences to the family.
Scott Davies
April 25, 2013
Kathy, Teri, David & Families,
Our deepest condolences to you all. Your father cast a very big shadow on the community of Emporia and was a very wonderful human person. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all and may God, in His grace, grant you peace.
Steve & Pamela Perkins
April 25, 2013
Dear David,
Kathleen and I want to extend our condolences to you and your family. I have fond memories of your father, and I hope that in some small way I contributed to the growth of Didde Graphics. We wish you all the very best.
Ward & Kathleen Walsh
Ward Walsh
April 25, 2013
Your Dad was a wonderful man , I have known him sense I have known Kathy,some 40 years, He raised wonderful Children...who have blessed him with Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren.. he was funny and always had a song to sing.. all of his children made him proud everyday.. that tells you what kind of man he was.. there will be a special place in heaven for him.. in the arms of God..xo
April 24, 2013
I knew Carl in Emporia, while a patient in newman rehab. We used to plot our next move to aggravate the therapists during meals. He was the highlight of meals while he was there. His stories were priceless. I will miss carl very much. He was a kind and gentle soul . And I pray he is at rest now...
He will me missed.
And only he will get this reference, but the next shots on me! Dena Daugherty
Dena Daugherty
April 24, 2013
I am Judy Vilumis, and I had the great pleasure of knowing Carl through the Villa. Each Wednesday I played the piano and sang with the "mens chorus". On a good day there were three or four of us! When Carl was feeling well, he would join us. He had the most beautiful voice! I will surely miss him, and my condolences to all of his family.
April 24, 2013
Carl was a joy and inspiration to so many. He truly was an ambassator of Christ.My prayers and thoughts are with you all. Sandy
Sandy Corte
April 24, 2013
It was a pleasure to have known Carl. We were part of his family at the Villa. I enjoyed passing his room with his music on for all to enjoy. May he rest in peace. We'll miss him.
Betty Hanicke
April 24, 2013
Teri,
What a magnificent life, and story. You must be very proud.
Mr. Clark
April 24, 2013
My condolences to the families who are now at a grievous loss. Wishing you all peace at heart.
Julie Forsyth
April 24, 2013
Teri, I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your father. What a long, wonderful life he has lived. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your entire family at this difficult time.
Margaret Park Stout
April 24, 2013
What a wonderful person Carl was, I'm so grateful to have worked with him.
Ed Heene
April 23, 2013
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