Eric Karl Dietrich

Eric Karl Dietrich APLINGTON, Iowa - Eric Karl Dietrich, 55, of Aplington, died Saturday, November 22, 2008, from injuries sustained in a farm accident north of Aplington. Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 25, 2008, at the Bethel Reformed Church, rural Aplington. Burial will be in the Bethel Reformed Church cemetery in rural Aplington, with full military rites by the Aplington AMVETs Post number 102. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, November 24, 2008, at the church and one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. Memorials may be directed to his family. The Redman-Schwartz Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Eric was born on March 20, 1953, in Muscatine, the son of Raymond and Rosalie Hutt Dietrich. He was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Muscatine. He graduated from Muscatine High School in 1972. On August 7, 1973, he married Mary Ellen Meyer at the home of Mary's parents in rural Aplington. That same year, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he was honorably discharged on February 23, 1977. The couple made their home in Germany from 1973-76, in Kentucky for one year following that a...[more]

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finally moving to the Aplington area in 1977. The Dietrichs had three children. He was a member of the Bethel Reformed Church and recently became a lifetime member of the Aplington AMVETS. He was currently employed with Berry Plastics in Iowa Falls, where he had worked for more than 17 years. He enjoyed farming, bowling, biking, flying kites, playing guitar and listening to music, especially older country. He will be remembered and missed for his sense of humor and ability to make anyone laugh. Perhaps his greatest joy was time spent with his family and friends, especially his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Mary Ellen Dietrich of Aplington; one son, Derek Dietrich of Aplington; two daughters, Margaret Rhodes and husband, Mark, of Des Moines and Sara Coggin and husband, Brian, of Waycross, Georgia; three grandchildren, Jordan Rhodes, Jacob Rhodes and Aaliah Truax; his parents, Ray and Rosie Dietrich; two brothers, Alek Dietrich and wife, Joan, and Curt Dietrich and wife, Lori, all of Muscatine; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Randolph and Flora Huttig Dietrich; maternal grandparents, Mitchell and Marion Steele Hutt and his in-law's, John and Frances Kannegieter Meyer.