Dieter, John Joseph

UPDATED

Beloved son, brother, uncle and husband, John Joseph Dieter, 49, left this world on Jan. 30, 2011, at his home from a rare hereditary ascending aortic aneurysm, with his Old English Sheepdogs at his side.

 He was born Dec. 5, 1961, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the second of five children born to Colleen (Meg C) Dieter and Donald Dieter. John lived in Springville, Iowa until the age of six. In 1968, the family moved to Mason City, where he attended St. Joseph's Catholic School. He also attended John Adams Junior High School in Mason City. In 1976, John moved to Garnerwith his mother and siblings where he attended Garner-Hayfield High School. He graduated after his junior year in order to go to work full time to help support his family. In 1980, the family moved to Vinton, where he resided until his premature passing.

From a young age on, John was a dedicated and hard worker with a vision for the future and a passion for wildlife. By age 8 he had his first paper route which he kept until moving to Garner. In high school he spent summers walking beans and detasseling corn. He was very proud of the job he landed at McIntosh Woods State Park which melded with his love of the outdoors.

In 1980, John worked for the La Porte City Co-Op. In 1981, John's body was severely burned in a grain elevator explosion at the Co-Op but his spirit was only strengthened by it. He used the lessons he learned from this experience to write a book, ”The Gift of Encouragement,” which emphasized finding happiness and positive thinking out of adversity. As a result, John became a sought after devotional/motivational speaker who desired to spread the message of Christ's infinite mercy and love.

A talented artist and wildlife painter, one of his biggest challenges after the accident was learning how to paint with his left hand. His determination paid off and he placed in the top rankings in the National Duck Stamp Competition.

Within months after recovering from the explosion, John decided to attend Taxidermy school so he could continue to be a part of nature and wildlife. He was the owner of Red Fox Taxidermy Studio. John's business grew and he was a much sought after taxidermist. His mounts are displayed throughout the world.

While his work was deemed superb, we know his clients also came for his easy going banter and wealth of knowledge which he shared with any who took the time to listen.

John was a visionary man whose world revolved around his faith and his family. His mother, Meg C Dieter, was his best friend and confidant. Her loss in 1997 was devastating for him. His siblings filled that void in his heart.

His many interests included religion, music, travel and politics. With a huge, generous heart, John privately donated money to charities consistently for the past 30 years. John anonymously donated the money to start the Benton County Canine Unit. He gave thousands to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews in order to airlift persecuted Jews out of Russia. He sponsored children internationally, purchased hundreds of winter coats for needy children, and even anonymously had roses handed out to every mother in his church for Mother's Day.

John had a love of knowledge and was gifted with a memory that seemed to go back to his own birth! He could recite people's names and their life histories as if he experienced each as his own. He touched the lives of people across the world and made a friend of each and every person he met. He was interested in people and took the time to absorb all he could from those met. If you knew anything about John, he knew twice as much about you!

John taught us that love was not confined to one religion, one nationality, or one continent. John had a gift for reaching out to people through the telephone. Many people will miss their daily phone call from John as well as the lengthy conversations about local and world events.

John joins his late parents, Donald Joseph Dieter and “Meg C” Colleen Dieter in heaven.

He is survived by his siblings, Sharon, David and Mark Dieter, as well as his sister, Joanne Dieter Norris, and his special companion, Viktoria. He was a proud uncle to Kylee, Karson, Kullen and Kellis Dieter, Sarah Rippel, John and Will Norris, and Ross Hossman. He is also survived by a large extended family which he cultivated throughout the world.

Friends and family are invited to attend a viewing and celebration of John's life at Phillips Funeral Home, 212 East Sixth St., Vinton, on Saturday, Feb. 5, from 1 to 5 p.m. Funeral services will be held Monday, Feb. 7, at 11 a.m. at the River of Life Church, Cedar Rapids, with viewing from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church. A private family burial will be at Bear Creek Church Cemetery, Brandon, Iowa.

A memorial fund has been established.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at