Lloyd Alfred Diehl

Lloyd Alfred Diehl, grandson of German and Swiss immigrants died Saturday, March 29, 2008, at Moore-Few Care Center, Nevada. He was born to John Henry and Rose Caroline Fuchs Diehl on April 30, 1920, in Pleasant Gap, Mo. The youngest of four children, he led a typical farm boy's life as he grew up. He attended Bever School and Rich Hill High School.

At a very young age he experienced the trauma of seeing an older sister catch fire in a gasoline explosion, eventually dying from her burns. This left such an impression he never forgot one detail. At the age of 10 he was baptized for the remission of sins and was added to the membership of the pleasant Gap Christian Church.

At the beginning of World War II, he attended school in Kansas City and at graduation accepted a job with the Glenn L. Martin Airplane factory, in Middle River, Md.

Lloyd and Norma Ghere were married in Baltimore, Md., on Jan. 21, 1942 and were faithful companions for more than 66 years. In 1944 they moved back to Missouri where he farmed for approximately 14 years. There home was eventually brightened with the birth of their son, Lloyd Brent Diehl, in 1948.

On Feb. 25, 1957, they sold all of their possessions at auction and moved to upstate New York, residing in Sauquoit. There, they built an attractive mobile home park. To operate and maintain it, they lived in it for 16 years.

Lloyd became a builder and was sought after for his ability, his knowledge and honesty. He guided several young men, becoming their mentor and teacher in the knowledge of building, and has received accolades for his guidance.

At this time the Church of Christ was established in Utica and Lloyd rededicated his life, working diligently for the church and with the church camp, Camp Hunt. He was instrumental in building a Lodge at the camp which carries the name, Diehl Lodge.

In 1980, Lloyd and his wife returned to Missouri settling in Nevada, Here he applied himself to clearing brush, fencing, and cleaning up two farms. He cleared 270 acres with a chain saw and a small bulldozer. He then took up a former love of raising cattle and over the years realized much satisfaction from his large heard of Santa Gertrudis cattle. As time went on his health began to fail. He did not recover well from emergency heart surgery in 1996 and was forced to sell his cattle. From then until the day of his death he was a semi-invalid surviving one crisis after another. Lloyd was a kind man who wouldn't burn a brush pile because there was a rabbit's nest in it. He loved the land and thought he was obligated to leave any piece of property better than when he acquired it. He honored his parents, was proud of reaching the age of 87, and being married 66 years. He loved to fish and had made several trips to Canada, flying in by bush plane to inaccessible spots. He also loved to travel, trace genealogy, loved antiques, and strongly believed in commitment. If he had a problem he kept at it until it was solved. There were times when he spent the night sitting by a faulty furnace in order to solve its problems.

Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Elsie Wilson and Ethel Diehl; three nephews, J.W. Davis, Douglas and David Diehl; daughter-in-law, Geri Diehl, and a brother-in-law, Levi Ghere.

He is survived by his wife, Norma, of the home; one son Brent Diehl, Tampa, Fla; one grandson, Brent Diehl Jr., Atlanta, Ga., and a brother, Paul Diehl and his wife Eleanor of Butler, and his many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., on Wednesday, April 2, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada with Joe Wix Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in the Myers Cemetery, near Butler. Friends may call from now until the hour of service at the funeral home.

Those who wish may contribute in his memory to the Myers Cemetery or House of Compassion in care of Ferry Funeral Home.