DIEKMANN, Fred August 1893-1953

DIEKMANN, JOHNSON, SCHULZ, TIMM, SCHUCHHARDT, ZIERATH, SIGLIN, GRIMSBY, KOEHLER, PAPACH, DREWELOW

Posted By: Jessica Drewis (email)
Date: 6/23/2005 at 22:09:03

RELATIVES ATTEND FRED DIEKMANN FUNERAL AT ALGONA

Attending the funeral of Fred Diekmann, at Algona from New Hampton Thursday were his brother and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Diekmann, his sisters, Mrs. Carl Timm and husband and Mrs. Paul Schuchhardt and husband and daughter, and other relatives including Mr. and Mrs, Robert Schulz, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Drewelow, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Schuchhardt, Mr. and Mrs. Emil Drewelow, Mrs. Earl Drewelow, Mrs. Frank Zierath, Mrs. Marie Schuchhardt, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Siglin, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Timm and Marilou, Charles Koehler and Mrs. Robert Papach.

Mr. Diekmann who was 60 years old died November 9, 1953 in the St. Ann Hospital in Algona. He had undergone major surgery at the University Hospital several weeks ago for lung cancer but the immediate cause of death was a heart attack.

Services were held in the Methodist Church with Rev. Harry Whyte officiating. Burial was in the East Lawn Memorial Park at Algona.

Mr. Diekmann was born March 14, 1893, at Boyd, the son of August and Augusta Diekmann. He received his education in the high school and the Oliver Business School at New Hampton.

His marriage to Carrie Helena Johnson on April 5, 1916, ended seven years later when she died on November 11, 1923. One child was born to this union, Fred, Jr.

On June 4, 1925, he married Grace Caroline Johnson (no relation to his deceased wife) at Wesley where they live until coming to Algona in April 1948. Two children were born of this marriage, Robert and John.

Mr. Diekmann came to Wesley in 1911 to Manage the Julius Kunz elevator chain and continues in the grain business until his death. He was only 18 when he began. He learned the elevator business "from the ground up" becoming chief accountant, and later credit man and auditor of the Kunz organization. At times he also worked in the First National Bank at Wesley.

A diversion from his business was the Wesley Cornet band of which he was a member. The band played for many public gatherings and celebrations and offered a concert each week.

Mr. Diekmann eventually became town clerk, a post which he held for 17 years, and was secretary of the Wesley school board for 32 years as well as the clerk of the Woodman Lodge for 31 years. He was Wesley township clerk for 25 years.

In 1934, Mr. Diekmann was named general manager and secretary-treasurer of the Kunz Grain Company. Upon the death of Julius Kunz in 1945, Mr. Diekmann was named president, and in 1946 when Mrs. Marie Kunz decided to liquidate the firm's assets, Mr. Diekmann and his associates purchased the five remaining elevators of the Kunz Grain Company and several residences in conjunction and formed a new corporation, the Kunz Grain, Inc. Three of the five elevators have since been sold.

After moving to their new home in Algona in 1948, Mr. Diekmann continued to handle his business from his home, maintaining close contact with the grain business.

Surviving are his wife, Grace, and three sons, Fred A. Jr. at home, Robert C. of Algona and John D. who is stationed at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. Also surviving are three sisters and one brother: Mrs. Carl Timm, Mrs. Paul Schuchhardt and Albert of New Hampton and Mrs. Walter Grimsby of Minneapolis, Minnesota.