James Rein Deitrich

James Reine Deitrich (Jim), 93, of Keokuk, Iowa, died on April 21, 2014 at River Hills Village in Keokuk. Jim was born on June 8, 1920 in Keokuk, Iowa. Jim graduated from Keokuk Senior High in 1938. Following graduation, he went to work for the U.S. Postal Service. At the beginning of World War II, Jim was granted military leave and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in January 1942. He was assigned to the 3rd Corps Signal Battalion of the 3rd Marines Amphibious Corps where he reached the rank of Staff Sergeant. He saw duty in operations in the South Pacific Theater that culminated with the Japanese surrender, as well as in China. After nearly four years of service in the South Pacific and Southeast Asia, Jim returned to the US on Christmas Eve, 1945. He married Charlotte Kentfield Van Ausdall on November 26, 1951. Jim and Charlotte enjoyed traveling and visiting elder hostels and many of our Nation's beautiful National Parks, picnicking by the Mississippi River with friends and family, and attending Jim's Marine Corp reunions all over the country. Jim was a firm believer in the value of education and received degrees from Carthage College and Western Illinois ...[more]

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versity, including a Masters Degree in counseling. Following WWII, Jim returned to the Post Office where he was a letter carrier for many years, and retired on July 1, 1976 as Supervisor of Mail. Following retirement, he worked for the City of Keokuk in the lab at the City's waste water treatment plant. Jim was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, where he served as Scoutmaster to Troop 43 for nine years. Jim very much enjoyed his time and travels with his scouts. He was a charter member of Lee County Historical Society and a longtime member of American Legion Post 41. Jim was also a member of the YMCA for 77 years and stayed active and healthy with his daily swim. He was preceded in death by his father and his mother, Lily Skrukrud, his brothers Charles, Lloyd, Cecil, and Dale, and his wife Charlotte on December 25, 1996. Jim is survived by his daughter, Carla Van Ausdall Celania, and son-in-law, Stephen Celania, of Keokuk; granddaughter, Lisa Celania, of Denver, Colorado; grandson, Paul Celania, and his wife, Kelly, of Hamilton, Illinois; great-grandsons, David and Luke Celania, also of Hamilton; two sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews. A service celebrating Jim's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 25, 2014, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Keokuk, with Pastor Missy Brown officiating. Visitation with the family will precede the service at 10:00 am at the church. Burial with military rites will be held at Keokuk National Cemetery immediately following the service. Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church or Keokuk Union Depo.