Dietrich, Donavon 'Don'

Donavon “Don” Dietrich, 94, died Sunday, June 5, 2011, at Keystone Nursing Care Center in Keystone following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 8, at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Van Horne, with the Rev. David Lingard officiating. Interment will be held at St. John Lutheran Cemetery near Newhall. Visitation also will be held at the church from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone is in charge of arrangements.

Donavon Martin Dietrich was born Oct. 18, 1916, in Van Horne, to Walter and Anna (Happel) Dietrich, and graduated from the Van Horne High School in 1933. On June 28, 1942, he was united in marriage to Lenora Meineke at Cedar Rapids. She preceded him in death in 2004. Don farmed in the Van Horne area before his retirement in 1991, when he and his wife moved to town.

He was a lifelong member of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Van Horne, where he was baptized Dec. 3, 1916, and confirmed May 8, 1932. Don was also an avid Cubs fan and enjoyed playing cards.

Don is survived by his son, Larry (Kay) Dietrich of Garrison; his daughters, Verlee (Dennis) Scheel of Rogers, Ark., and Pam (Darrel) Honnold of Westfield, Wis.; 10 grandchildren, Brett (Judy) Scheel, Dawn (Kelly) Shryock, Darren (Kelly) Honnold, Tami (Brian) Janke, Dake (Lyna) Dietrich, Cale (Leanne) Dietrich, Amy Jo (Chris) Jensen, Kelly (Bret) Burkhart, Valerie Schadle and Miranda Dietrich; 20 great-grandchildren; his brother, Glen (Lois) Dietrich of Van Horne; his sister, Marilyn (Alan) Young of Cedar Rapids; and his sister-in-law, Gerry Meineke of Anamosa.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his sister, Leona Dietrich, and his brother-in-law, Leland Meineke.

A memorial fund has been established for St. Andrew's Lutheran Church or the charity of the donor's choice.

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