Katherine Heck Dieterich

Katherine Heck Dieterich, 96, of Ottawa, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, March 4, 2015. Family will meet with friends from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 11, 2015, at Dengel & Son Mortuary. Memorial services will follow at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday. Interment Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, Kansas. Katherine was born Sunday, May 5, 1918, in Lawrence, Kansas, the daughter of Emil William and Wilhelmina (Muiller) Heck, they preceded her in death. Katherine was a resident of Princeton, Kansas, since 1953, moving from north of Lawrence. She graduated from Liberty Memorial High School, Lawrence, with the class of 1937. She attended the University of Kansas. Katherine and Dale Norman Dieterich were married January 23, 1946 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lawrence, Kansas, after Dale had been discharged from the Navy as a fighter pilot following WWII. Writing letters was her passion. During the war, Katherine wrote to servicemen. By the end of the war in 1945, she had written to 102 active servicemen. After Dale passed in 1992, one of her favorite quotes was by Lord Byron: “Letter writing is the only device combining solitude and good company”. Besides being a homemaker her entire adult life, Katherine worked as a secretary/receptionist for Liberty Memorial High School in Lawrence from 1939 to 1943. She was a receptionist for Anderson Realty, in Ottawa, from 1972 to 1974. Since 1963, she was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Ottawa serving on several committees. She was a 10 year volunteer, for Ransom Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, receiving the Volunteer of the Year award. Katherine was also a life member of the KU Alumni Association, Friends of the Ottawa Library, and a volunteer, coordinating Phone Friend for 2 years. Survivors include her son, Dale N. Dieterich, Jr. and wife Sheri of Ottawa; their children, Jeff Dieterich, wife Brooke and children Carter and Trent of Richmond Hill, Georgia, Jennifer Dieterich and son Zachary of Overland Park, and Lindsey Dieterich and children Leah and Evan of Princeton. Katherine’s second son, William H. Dieterich and wife Frederica of Fort Worth, Texas; their children, Tim Dieterich, wife Katherine and son Titus of Keller, Texas, Julie Dieterich of Decatur, Texas, and William Dieterich of Fort Worth. Brother, Emil W. Heck, Jr. and wife Bette of Lawrence. Katherine was 56 years of age when she became a grandmother. She spent many, many happy hours with her grandchildren. “They’ll not realize what joy they have brought me until they have grandchildren of their own”, she said. “Life is too short and should last longer when one is young”. The family suggests memorial contributions to Ohio Township Fire Department or First United Methodist Church c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to leave their condolences and memories on Mrs. Dieterich’s Celebration Wall at www.dengelmortuary .com.