DIETSCH, Cleo Germaine (Fangman) 1923-2015
DIETSCH, FANGMAN, LEANDER
Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 10/19/2015 at 13:33:33
Cleo Dietsch
December 15, 1923 - January 30, 2015
Cleo Germaine Fangman Dietsch was born on December 15th, 1923, to Loretta Higgins and Leander Fangman in Platte Center, Nebraska. She died January 30th, 2015, at age 91.
Cleo entered first grade (age 3 1/2) at St. James Elementary in Kearney, Nebraska. Her traditional Catholicism was inspired there by the Dominican Sisters. She took her confirmation name, Amata, after her favorite dance teacher. Sister Amata had performed on Broadway before entering religious life. When boarding there, Cleo loved early Mass lit only by a wall of vigil lights.
After marrying and establishing a home on Kenilworth Road, she showed up so early at daily Mass, St. Edward’s pastor finally gave her the key. She was a charter member of St. Edward’s and currently belonged to St. Philomena’s in Bremer.
Kearney was always “home” to her. Summers playing at Harmon Field, riding horses, swimming, skating and teasing rattlesnakes in the prairie dog “town” were favorite pastimes.
Cleo attended Loyola High School in Mankato, Minnesota and graduated from St. John’s Girls Academy in Omaha, Nebraska. She played center in basketball, was a cheerleader, in many theatre productions and was editor of the school newspaper.
After high school she was a receptionist and switchboard operator at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Omaha, doing her favorite thing: talking to people.
Cleo studied (and later taught) telegraphy and railroad procedure. She was the youngest telegrapher the Union Pacific Railroad hired, working up and down the line in Oregon in the 1940’s. As part of the war effort she made gun powder in Baraboo, Wisconsin and shells at Chamberlains.
On the morning of January 5th, 1946 she married Robert Dietsch at St. Mary’s Church in Waterloo. The rest of the day was taken up with a flood. Very memorable.
Before her children arrived she worked at the Three Sisters Dress Shop and Black’s candy counter. Cleo was a homemaker and after raising her own three children, worked in private homes in Waterloo. She shared her life with three other children dear to her, Tricia, Michael and Buffy Riley. She was a lot of fun as a Mom, especially when camping or sledding with the family. Cleo was a co-leader in Boy Scouts and helped Columbus fund-raise.
Entering eternity before her: her parents; husband, Bob; son, Trooper-Pilot Lance Dietsch; brother, Keith; sister, Mary Adair (Sr. M. Michael Lane, O.P); sister, Donna Busby; and favorite aunt, Abby.
Survivors are: daughter, Nancy Mary Haynes; son-in-law, Rick Haynes; daughter, Tamy Dietsch; and granddaughter, Jenny Haynes (fiance’ Andrew Fortmann).
Services will be private with burial in Calvary Cemetery. Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on West Ridgeway is in charge of arrangements.
Gifts may be directed to the family with a memorial to be designated later.
Source: Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service
Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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