Obit: Diercks, Eugene “Gene” Robert (1926 - 2017)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Diercks, Kier, Walker, Bushmaker, Hildebrandt, Lawson, Ohlsson, Temple, Poeschel, McMillan, Sentek, Durham, Koranda, Schalow

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 6/21/2017

Diercks, Eugene “Gene” Robert (10 May 1926 – 17 June 2017) With Flag

Eugene “Gene” Robert Diercks, 91, of Wisconsin Rapids passed away Saturday, June 17, 2017, at The Waterford at Wisconsin Rapids.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 23, 2017, at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids. Rev. Doug Schalow will officiate. Inurnment, with full military honors, will take place at the Forest Hill Cemetery Mausoleum. Memorial visitation will be held Thursday, June 22, 2017, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and Friday, June 23, 2017, from 1 p.m. until the time of the memorial services at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.taylorfuneralhome.net.

Gene was born May 10, 1926, in Marshfield to Carl and Viva (Kier) Diercks. He served in the Army National Guard from 1948 to 1950 and from 1957 to 1975. Gene honorably served his country in the U. S. Army from 1950 to 1957, during the Korean War. He married “his girl,” Wahnita “Nita” Walker Feb. 26, 1955, in Neillsville. They were blessed with 60 years of marriage, until her passing April 10, 2015.

Gene was a very hard-working man. Aside from his full-time job at Consolidated Papers Inc., he and Nita had a hobby farm in Vesper, where they raised Angus beef cattle. He enjoyed gardening and being outdoors, puttering around their hobby farm as well as “the pits” a couple of miles up the road. Gene was a very proud and active member of the American Legion Post 520 in Vesper up until his passing.

Oct. 12, 2015, Gene, and his daughter Barb took the trip of a lifetime, as part of Honor Flight #22, which took them to Washington, D. C. Although they found all the sites and monuments awe-inspiring and revering, none impacted Gene more than the Korean War Memorial, the wad he so proudly served his country. He had been encouraged by his family and Legion brothers to participate in Previous Honor Flight, however, Gene refused to leave his beloved Nita’s side, even for one day, while was still here with us. After her passing, he finally agreed to participate, and he thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful trip.

Without a doubt, the most treasured part of Gene’s life was his family. Through their unconditional love, Gene and Nita instilled strong family bonds in their children and grandchildren. They cherished spending as much time as possible with their family. The family feels like they are the “richest” people in the world because they were blessed with having this wonderful, selfless man in their lives. They were proud to call him: dad, grandpa, and great-grandpa. Gene will be forever loved and deeply missed.

Gene is survived by his son, Dennis (Jodie) Diercks of Sparta; daughters, Barb (Pete) Bushmaker of Wisconsin Rapids, and Karen Hildebrandt of Green Bay; 11 grandchildren: Joshua (Jessica) Diercks, Trevor Diercks, Justin (Jamie) Diercks, Kasey Diercks, Caleb (Cassie) Diercks, Ryan (Michelle) Bushmaker, Korie (Shane) Lawson, Brandis (Otto) Ohlsson, Noah Hildebrandt, and Walker Temple; 23 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sister, Shirley Poeschel, and sisters-in-law, Florence Diercks, Margret Walker, and Edna Walker.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Nita; grandsons Jeremy and Travis Diercks; great-grandson Tanner Diercks; his parents, Carl and Viva Diercks; siblings: Roland Diercks, Chester (Donna) Diercks, Janet McMillan, Ruby Diercks; brothers and sisters-in-law: Ralph (Berma) Walker, Melvin (Rilla) Walker, Orville (Ione) Walker, Bud Walker, Manley (Erline) Walker, Cliff Walker, Jack (Charleen) Walker, Zora (Albert) Sentek, Charlotte (Alvin) Durham, and Reta (Jerry) Koranda.

A special thank you to everyone at Heartland Hospice for the care and comfort they gave to our dad. There are no words to express our eternal appreciation, and gratitude for our extended family at The Waterford at Wisconsin Rapids for the unconditional support and unwavering love and care they’ve shown our entire family. Please know that the caregivers, kitchen staff, housekeeping personnel, maintenance people and administration are our “angels on earth.”