WAKEENEY – Ferdinand "Ferd" A. Dietz, age 87, of WaKeeney, passed away Monday, September 24, 2012 at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital.


Ferdinand was born in rural Trego County on November 15, 1924, the son of Otto and Anna Elizabeth (Fabrizius) Dietz. Ferd was a WaKeeney area resident most of his life. He was a 1942 graduate of Trego Community High School. On November 17, 1944, Ferdinand was united in marriage to Wanda Easter in Quanah, Texas. They enjoyed 62 years of marriage together until Wanda's death on October 15, 2007.

Ferd was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, having spent several years on the church council and as a Sunday School Teacher. He was also very active in the community, whether it was making his daily rounds having afternoon coffee at McDonald's or stopping in at various businesses around town to visit his many friends. Other organizations Ferd was involved in were Kiwanis Club, Great Plains Hospital Alliance, and the Mystic Knights of the Deep Blue Sea (social club). He was part of the organizational group for Prairie Faith for Shared Ministry. Ferd was a grocery store co-owner for many years, in partnership with his brother and best friend, Don. After retirement as a grocer, he went to work for Trego County as a heavy equipment operator, doing road maintenance. In his more recent years (up until his death), he worked for Pitroad Liquor in WaKeeney. Ferd was a huge K-State fan and St. Louis Cardinals fan. He cherished his time with family in front of the television taking in a good game. He was also an avid golfer. Many of Ferd's friendships started on the golf course.

Ferd will be dearly missed by many friends and family, including: two sons Kenneth (Cindy) Dietz of Lenexa, Kansas and James (Krista) Dietz of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two daughters Carol (Michael) Cavell of Prairie Village, Kansas and Laura (Charley III) Crook of WaKeeney, Kansas; a brother Palmer (Eileen) Dietz of Wichita, Kansas; nine grandchildren Derek, Anna, Terah, Myles, Jodi, Ryan, Chuck, Clair and Austin; and 10 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a brother Don Dietz, a sister Nadine Dietz, and a grandson Kurt Struss.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 28, 2012 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church of WaKeeney with Pastor Randy Gibbs officiating. Burial will be in the WaKeeney City Cemetery.

Visitation will be Thursday evening from 6 to 7 at the Schmitt Funeral Home of WaKeeney.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Immanuel Lutheran Church or the Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital and may be sent in care of the Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

Words of support and sympathy may be sent to the family by clicking sign guestbook or send private condolence above.