Reuben Stanley Dietzel, age 101, formerly of Bay Port, Michigan passed away on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at Sunnyside Retirement Community of Sarasota, Florida. Reuben was born on November 5, 1916, in Bay Port, Michigan, son of Samuel and Elma (Stein) Dietzel.
Reuben and Gertrude E. (Albrecht) were married on October 8, 1943 and raised five children.
Reuben spoke frequently of his years in Civilian Public Service as a conscientious objector. He was a farmer for 29 years in Bay Port, and worked at Dietzel Electric for his brother, Herklas Dietzel.
Reuben was a member of the Pigeon River Mennonite Church and served on the original school board of Michigan Mennonite School.
For many years Reuben took his family for vacation to Little Eden Camp in Onekama, Michigan where he loved to fish in his little boat.
In 1973 Reuben and Gertrude sold the farm and moved to Sarasota, Florida. Reuben worked on a poultry farm, in a trailer factory, and an electrical shop. He was a member of Bahia Vista Mennonite Church.
In 1985 Reuben and Gertrude were the first residents to move into Sunnyside Retirement Community.
Reuben is survived by his five children, Geraldine (Wayne) Swartzendruber of Pigeon, Michigan; Mary Kay (Larry) Erb of Weaverville, North Carolina; Carol (Ed) McDonnell of Cape Coral, Florida; David (Angie) Dietzel of Houghton Lake, Michigan; and Dennis (Tamara) Dietzel of Davidson, North Carolina; his sister, Helen Loewen of Minneapolis, Minnesota; sisters-in-law Mildred Dietzel of North Manchester, Indiana; and Francis Dietzel of Colorado Springs, Colorado; eight grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his siblings Herklas Dietzel, Loren Dietzel, Arnold Dietzel, Carlton Dietzel, Harlan Dietzel, and Lenora Sempira.
The memorial service will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 24, at the chapel at Sunnyside Village with Jarvis Hochstedler, Chaplain and Roger Shenk, Pastor of Sarasota Community Church officiating.
Burial will follow at Palms-Robarts Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Reuben Dietzel to Sunnyside Foundation, 5201 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota, Florida 34232.
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