Pete Dietl

Peter John Dietl, age 84, of Gallatin, passed peacefully on Wednesday, July 29th, 2025 at Ascension St. Thomas hospital after a short illness.

Pete was born on January 24, 1941 in Prague, Czechoslovakia to Emmerich Dietl and Lillian Riess Dietl. His father was an engineer who worked on radio towers and communications. His mother, who was born in the United States but raised in Europe, worked with her grandfather in the local Czech government. When World War II broke out, his mother sent him to live with friends in the country to keep him safe. His father was killed in the war and his mother was interned in a concentration camp. After the war, they were reunited and his mother returned to the US bringing the then 7 year old Pete with her. They eventually settled in Chicago where Pete could begin the life of a regular American kid. Pete was drafted into the Army in 1963 and was stationed in Germany for two years. After the service, he went to work in the insurance industry working as a commercial underwriter and later as an outside salesman supporting insurance agents. It was while he was working for General Accident Insurance that he met his wife of 46 years, Diane Tucker. He had to come into the office one day a week to file reports, and kept finding excuses to interact with Diane getting her in trouble with her supervisor. They both moved on to other jobs, but reignited their relationship in the summer of 1978 and were married in February of 1979 during one of Chicago's worst blizzards. Pete always loved Tennessee and fishing vacations on Kentucky Lake, and Diane had spent vacations in the Smokies as a child, so after the passing of their parents, they decided to move to their beloved Tennessee and chose Gallatin for its central location and nearness to Nashville. They both found work and when Pete was ready to retire, he decided to drive a school bus for Sumner County and did some substitute teaching, mostly at the elementary level which he loved. That is where he became “Mister Pete”. The children named him and it stuck with them, the teachers and staff, and many of his friends through the following years. Pete loved fishing, but in his later years, the siren call of the golf course took hold and he joined the Long Hollow Senior Men's Golf Group. He golfed twice a week and also built clubs for himself and others; always trying to improve his swing. Pete was sharp with an analytical mind, a head for finance and the instincts of a natural-born salesman. He was funny with a great sense of humor and a fondness for making up his own lyrics to popular songs. He also created new words that lived only in his imagination. Conversely, Pete could be prickly and did not suffer fools gladly, but he was faithful to his friends and had a generous heart. Pete leaves behind his loving wife, Diane; his sister-in-law, Sandy Watkins; his brother-in-law, Norman Watkins, four nephews; Ben Watkins, Eric Watkins (Crystal), John Watkins (Elizabeth) andDavid Watkins (Norlie); his niece Jaela Flowers (Butch); his best puppy, Sadie and many friends