Adele M. Dieterich

ST. ANSGAR | Adele Marie Dieterich, 100, of St. Ansgar, died on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, at the Good Samaritan Center, St. Ansgar.

Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar, with the Rev. Dr. Byron Northwick officiating. Burial will take place in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, St. Ansgar. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the service at the church.

Adele Dieterich was born in St. Ansgar, Iowa, Dec. 21, 1913, the third child of August and Elizabeth Wiegner Janzow. She spent her childhood in St. Ansgar, graduating from St. Ansgar High School in the spring of 1931. She spent the next seven years doing housework and working in local stores, as well as teaching country school for five years.

But her dream was to attend Iowa State University and study Home Economics. After saving her money and with help from her family, she was able to attend Iowa State in 1937 and graduated in December of 1941, the same month as Pearl Harbor. She always felt that college opened doors and she taught Home Economics in Sioux Center and then in Cedar Rapids for five years.

During her time in Cedar Rapids she volunteered at Schick Military Hospital caring for returning World War II soldiers. She became reacquainted with Water Dieterich, a local St. Ansgar man, who was recovering from being a prisoner of war. Love blossomed and she married Walter on July 26, 1946.

They moved to the farm in Newburg Township of Mitchell County Iowa in 1947. The farm did have electricity but the home was without running water or a furnace. Walter would come running to the house with buckets of water shouting, "We have running water!" Thus began her adventures on the farm using all her skills she processed to make her house a home.  

To Walter and Adele were born three children, David, Dorian, and Richard. As she reflected on her life when she was well into her nineties her memories were fond of the good life she had lived. She substitute taught at the St. Ansgar High School until her hearing made it difficult to hear students. Her involvement as a 4-H leader led to her serving on the Mitchell County Extension Council, serving on the Public Affairs and Home Economics committees. She and Walter moved to the town of St. Ansgar because of his ill health in 1971, where Adele enjoyed being a member of the Garden Club and playing bridge. One of her passions was creative writing. She wrote numerous stories of her adventures and at the age of 70, published her booklet, "The Six Stages of Family Life" with the hopes of passing on her life observations.  

Her church, Immanuel Lutheran, was the center of her life where she was proud of the fact that her grandfather was the first pastor at Immanuel. She taught 6th grade catechism teaching Bible history for many years, quilted for Lutheran World Relief and was the first woman on the church council. She enjoyed Bible study through her circle. She continued to attend church each Sunday until her death.  

At the age of 95 she missed a step in taking out her recyclables and broke her hip and pelvis. Always being the resourceful woman, she used her bag of grass clippings for a pillow, her cardboard for a sunshield and newspapers to prop up legs until someone found her. With this incident, she entered the Good Samaritan Center in St. Ansgar. With her failing eyesight and hearing she spent her final years at Good Sam. She enjoyed living at the Center receiving wonderful care and companionship.  

She passed from this earth and entered eternal glory on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. She is survived by her children, David (Jeanette) of Ames, Dorian Atwood (Doug Dickey) of Fairfield, and Richard of St. Ansgar; five grandchildren, Nicholle (Matt) Allen of Kansas City, Carissa (Chad) Garside of Eldorado Springs, Colorado, Randy (Kris) Dieterich of St. Ansgar, Jeremy (Angie) Atwood of Fairfield and Danny Dieterich of Rochester; six great-grandsons, Hale, Kane and Owen Dieterich, Brock and Kyler Atwood and Gus Allen also survive. Also surviving is her brother, Richard Janzow of Chicago.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter, in 1977, her son-in-law Norman Atwood, brothers, Ludwig, Bertrum, and Arthur Janzow and sisters, Frieda Crouch and Clara Meyerhoff.

Schroeder and Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar, IA.   641-713-4920. www.schroederandsites.com