Edward Frederick Deiwert, 90, died on June 1, 2019. Fred was born January 11, 1929 on the family farm in southern Rush County, the son of Lester and Opal (nee VanLue) Deiwert. He spent his childhood years on the farm and at his grandfather’s nearby orchard in Decatur County. Fred graduated from Clarksburg High School in 1947 after helping to lead the Knights’ basketball team to consecutive Decatur County championships, including 20 straight wins his senior year.
He then attended the Purdue University agriculture short course before joining his father at their new farm just north of Greensburg, where he continued to grow grain and livestock before and after service in the U.S. Army from 1951-53.
Fred married his high school sweetheart Sarah Alford before heading overseas with the army in 1951, and they were married for over 65 years before her death in 2017. Together they raised four sons: Edward (Judy) of Franklin, Edwin (Jane) of Columbus, Myron from Wagram, NC, and Mike (Wanda) of Stow, Ohio. Fred and Sarah have eight grandchildren: Philip (Aime’e) Deiwert, Rebecca Smith (Josh Hambright), Elisabeth Deiwert, Adam (Acey) Deiwert, Craig (Megan) Deiwert, Kyle (Sarah) Deiwert, Tyler Deiwert, and Mara Deiwert, as well as six great-grandchildren.
Fred was preceded in death by his brother Charles Richard in 1931, and is survived by his sister Mary Louise Weber (Englewood OH) and brother Clyde (Lora) Deiwert (Dunreith).
In addition to the labors and responsibilities of farming and family, Fred was an active part of Decatur County agricultural and social organizations, and especially at the Greensburg First Christian Church, where he was a member for over 60 years and served many terms as a deacon. Fred and Sarah continued to volunteer with Bread of Life and Meals on Wheels, where they were honored as “Volunteers of the Year” in 2011.
Fred’s faith and character were evident to all who knew him, and he lived out the command to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before God.
In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to consider a memorial gift to First Christian Church’s Move Forward fund, or Greensburg Community Bread of Life.
Visitation will be held at Greensburg’s Gilliland-Howe Funeral Home on Wednesday June 5 from 4-7pm, and at Greensburg First Christian Church on Thursday June 6 from 9am until the start of the funeral service at 10am, with Rev. Danny Wolford officiating. Burial will follow at the Kingston Cemetery.
