Denis Hugo Dieker

Denis Hugo Dieker was born on February 18, 1933, in Olpe, Kansas, and passed away on September 21, 2020. He was the 6th child of 10 children born to Joseph and Mathilda Dieker. His early education was in Catholic School until the challenges of the depression and 10 children necessitated the move to public school. He didn’t graduate high school but instead chose to work washing dishes and assisting in a local grocery store from the time he was 14.

When he was of age, Denis enlisted in the US Army. Denis served from 1951 through 1954 as a pipeline technician in Korea during the Korean War. After being Honorably Discharged with 4 bronze service stars, he completed his GED. He owned Denny’s of Severy (KS) Service Center for eight years and was a Safety Specialist and Heavy Equipment Logistics Specialist with Russell and Sons Construction until 1972.

He attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma City University. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in 1980.

Denis accepted Christ at the age of 31 and turned his life to ministry. Prior to his ordination by the Methodist Church, he would preach “anywhere they would have me”. He led churches in Eureka, Neal, and Climax, Kansas. Moving to Oklahoma he spent more than 30 years as a pastor to small churches, among them Braman, Cleveland, Yale, Blackburn, Durant, Forgan, Wynnewood, Paul’s Valley, Lone Wolf, and Maramec, with his wife Mary alongside. In his spare time, he enjoyed tinkering with mechanical devices of all sorts and writing poetry.

At the time of his death, he lived at the Teal Creek Assisted Living Center in Edmond, Oklahoma, where he occasionally led Sunday church services and Tuesday morning Bible study.

He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Shirley Dieker, his sister Viola Waters (Micheal) of Las Vegas, Nevada, and his brother Richard (Judith) of West Palm Beach, Florida. He is also survived by his son from his first marriage, Denis Hugo Dieker Jr. (Shirley) of Wichita Kansas, two grandchildren, Joseph Hugo (Alyson) of Overland Park, KS and Maggi (Kyle McGuffy) of Richardson, TX; and his great grandson, Thomas Hugo Dieker. Finally, he is survived by step-son George Harris (Sharon), step-daughter Partricia Gilliland (George), 9 step grandchildren and 19 step great grandchildren.

A celebration of Denis’ life will take place October 6th at 2:00 pm at the First Assembly of God Church in Pawnee, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, we encourage everyone to make a donation to their favorite charity.