Gerald F. Dietrich

Gerald F. "Jerry" Dietrich of Topeka, Kansas passed away unexpectedly on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 2021. Jerry was born in North Tonawanda, NY on August 23, 1940, to Lawrence Dietrich and Regina Brzeczkowski.

Jerry graduated from North Tonawanda High School in 1958 and shortly after enlisted in the military. He honorably served in the U.S. Army and ended his service at Fort Riley, Kansas. He was a Cryptographic Technician and was quite proud that he could type 90 words a minute.

Jerry was united in marriage to Ellen Adkisson at Fort Riley in 1961. They divorced. He was united in marriage to Brenda S. Duncan on June 28, 1980.

Jerry received his BS in Business Administration in 1978 and his MBA in 1984 from Rockhurst College, for which he was honored to be part of the Executive Fellows MBA program. Jerry was a Corporate Credit Manager for Fairbanks Morse Pump Company in Kansas City, KS and the Marley Pump Company for many years. Later in life, Jerry decided to get his real estate license and enjoyed being a Realtor for JC Nichols in Kansas City.

In 2001, Jerry suffered a traumatic brain injury. He underwent brain surgery and spent several weeks in rehabilitation; but, never fully recovered. In 2015, he was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia as a result of his injury and, at the time of his death, had been in long-term care at Aldersgate Village in Topeka.

Jerry was a "builder". He loved construction and the smell of fresh wood. Lumber yards called his name. He liked nothing better than knocking down walls and remodeling every house he ever lived in. He built decks and fences and patios. He expanded bathrooms and bedrooms, built brick sidewalks and stone walls and loved designing and creating things. He had more tools than you could possibly imagine, and he used them all. He would look at a piece of wooden doll furniture and design and build it to perfection. He also took an interest in stained glass and created a number of beautiful pieces to give to friends and family. Jerry loved traveling and taking trips where he could drive and enjoy the scenery. He liked cars….in particular….Cadillacs. Some of his favorite driving vacations were to Niagara Falls (NY), Hilton Head (SC), Savanah (GA), Memphis (TN), New Orleans (LA), Destin (FL), Cripple Creek (CO) and Lake of the Ozarks (MO). Before his injury he enjoyed taking cruises and visiting Caribbean Islands. His one regret was that he never made it to Germany to research his heritage.

Jerry lived a very full life. Surviving family members include his devoted wife of 41 years, Brenda Dietrich of Topeka, KS and his children, Lauren (Lenexa, KS), Elaine Dietrich (Olathe, KS), Catherine Burke and her husband Kevin (Estero, Florida), Barbara Carr and her husband Mike (Leawood, KS), Meredith Robinson and her husband Mike Henneman (Overland Park, KS), Paul Dietrich and his wife Julie (Lee's Summit, MO), Joe Pawell (Sunset Beach, NC); his brother, Dennis Dietrich, North Tonawanda, NY; his grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his oldest brother, Larry Dietrich, Belton, MO.

The family will hold a Private Memorial Service on December 12, 2021 at the Dove Southwest Chapel with Rev. Meredith Kemp-Pappan officiating. Jerry requested to be cremated.

We would like to thank the many medical professionals in Topeka who took good care of Jerry and the kind and loving staff at Aldersgate, on Elmhurst Unit.

Memorial contributions can be sent to the Auburn-Washburn Education Foundation, 5928 SW 53rd St., Topeka, KS. 66610.

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