Obituary of DuWayne Dietz

DuWayne E. Dietz STERLING - DuWayne E. Dietz, 83, died Wednesday, July 25, 2012. He was born in Sterling February 26, 1929, to Edward "Stub" and Alice (Emmitt) Dietz, and was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Ruth Hains, 63 years ago on August 21, 1949. He graduated from Sterling High School in 1948, the University of Iowa in 1952, and received his Master's from University of Illinois. DuWayne completed 57 jumps as a paratrooper in the Army during the Korean War and served in the Army Reserves for 30 years, retiring with a rank of Colonel. DuWayne returned to SHS in 1955 to teach and coach. As head track coach, he won 26 conference titles. He was inducted into the SHS Athletic Hall of Fame multiple times, as well as the Illinois Track Coaches Hall of Fame. Upon retiring in 1989, SHS honored DuWayne by naming the track after him. He served as Commander of the American Legion, was a member of the SHS Athletic Hall of Fame Committee, drove veterans to the VA hospital in Iowa City, and served as a council member at St. John's Lutheran Church. DuWayne was surrounded by love and is survived by his wife and soul mate, Ruth Dietz; five children, Debbie (Jack) Glessner of Flemington, NJ, Kim (Bob) Ptak of Sterling, Peggy (John) Peach of St. Charles, Greg (Rita) Dietz of Naperville, and Darcy (Wynn) Ullman of Carol Stream; fourteen grandchildren, Ryan (Lisa), Lindsay, and Allison Ptak, Sarah, Angie, and Katie Glessner, Matthew (Kara), Darcy, and Derek Peach, Megan and Lauren Dietz, Zachary, Jake, and Brock Ullman; one sister, Yvonne (Walter) Smith; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and step-mother, Mabel (Wolber) Dietz. Visitations will be from 3-8pm, Tuesday, July 31, at Schilling Funeral Home in Sterling, and Wednesday, August 1, from 9:30-10:15am at St. John's Lutheran Church. Funeral services will be held at St. John's at 10:30am Wednesday, August 1, with Reverend Mark Oehlert officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the DuWayne Dietz Memorial Scholarship Fund via the Sterling Schools Foundation, St. John's Lutheran Church, or Parkinson's Disease Foundation. Condolences may be sent to www.schillingfuneralhome.com.