Horst Paul Dietrich

Horst Paul Dietrich, age 89, of Cape Coral, FL and formerly of Oxon Hill, MD, was taken from our lives on January 31, 2022 from liver failure. He was born on December 1, 1932 in Mannheim, Germany, to the late Johann and Gertrude (Jourdan) Dietrich. Horst was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Arno & Martha Dietrich; his two grandsons, Shane & Robert Bates; and beloved son-in-law, Matthew Jennings.

Horst started as a professional bricklayer in Germany and then went on to work at the Officers Club in Ramstein AFB as a civilian. That job introduced him to many wonderful high-ranking officers, one of whom sponsored Horst, his wife and daughter to come to America in 1959 where he worked at the Officers Club at Bolling AFB in Washington, DC. After several years, he and his wife became business owners and established several dry-cleaning establishments in Maryland. He also obtained a contracting license and built their own home there and in 2006 they built their second home in Florida and retired there.

Horst leaves behind his loving wife of 67 years, Else (Conrad) Dietrich; sister, Gertrud “Trudi” Kubacki (Peter) of Germany; daughter, Monika (Dietrich) Jennings of Cape Coral, FL; son, Robert Dietrich (Diana) of Edgewood, MD; Grandsons, Jason Dietrich (Danielle Wertz) and Thomas Dietrich; and Great-Granddaughter, Keira Dietrich.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you “pay-it-forward” and make someone smile with random acts of kindness. With Horst’s love of the military, you may also donate to Holiday 4 Heroes (at www.Holiday4Heroes.com) who send care packages to our troops overseas and prepare backpacks for our homeless veterans. Or you may donate to the Matthew Jennings Memorial Fund, c/o Cape Coral Community Foundation, 1405 SE 47th Street, Cape Coral FL 33904. This Fund helps disadvantaged children and kids dealing with cancer.