J. Richard (Dick) Diehl (1872-1905)

DIEHL, GIBSON, ANDRUS, RICHARDSON, SMILEY

Posted By: Barry Mateer (email)
Date: 12/24/2020 at 17:25:34

The Osceola Sentinel
January 12, 1905

Another of earth's pilgrims has crossed the river Death. Death, the nemesis of all mortality, has claimed another victim, and J. Richard Diehl is no more. On last Friday, January 6th, about half past three, the summons came to him, while he was busy about his evening chores. His death was sudden and unexpected, coming in the form of heart failure. Under its deadly stroke he fell upon his face in his barnyard, and life was extinct when he was found by his wife's cousin, Mrs. Smiley, who was visiting in the home.

With his wife and little son, he had attended church on Thursday evening. Had remained over night with his parents and about eleven o'clock had gone out to his home, some four and a half miles northwest of Osceola. He, seemingly, was as well as usual and even in better spirits than common. He ate a hearty dinner and spoke of enjoying it more than usual.
In the afternoon about 3 p. m. he had gone out to do his evening work, preparing to come to church at night. His wife, suffering from a headache, had lain down for rest and falling asleep had a dream, or premonition, that she saw him fall, and springing from the couch, where he had propped her in pillows, and bathed her face as the last tender ministry to her, she ran out doors and screamed. Mrs. Smiley went immediately to look for him, as above, recited. Friends and neighbors were summoned, and he was tenderly carried into his home where all was done possible to call him back to life. Dr. Sells arrived in about half an hour after he fell and pronounced him beyond the reach of physician's skill and love of earthly relatives.

The deceased had suffered from momentary weakness and fainting spells for about a year. He knew that something was wrong and had consulted with physicians regarding it. Perhaps the ultimate end was expected by him, but he carefully concealed his fears from his wife and family and bravely went about his duties.

J. Richard Diehl was the sixth child of Mr. and Mrs. John Diehl, the second son of a family of seven children—three boys and four girls—ono brother and two sisters preceded him in death. One brother, Chas B., of Stratton, Neb., two sisters, Mrs. Frank Andrus of this city, and Mrs. W. L. Richardson, of Maxwell, Ia., survive him. Besides his aged parents, his wife and baby boy are left to mourn his untimely death. A host of friends join with the writer in extending sympathy to the bereaved ones in this hour of sorrow.

The deceased 'was born in Clarke county, about four and a half miles northeast of Osceola, Aug. 27,1872. He was thirty-two years, four months and nine days of age. He has always lived in this county. He had made for himself a home und leaves a competency for his wife and child. Ho was married to Nellie E. Gibson in Osceola Jan. 24, 1892. Two children blessed this union. The eldest child, Chas. Bernard, died when three years of age. Forrest Richard, a little lad of seventeen months, survives.

Dick Diehl, us he was familiarly known, was a husband of husbands—loving his wife and babies with a love surpassing in its beauty and fidelity. He was a man of uprightness and integrity in his business relations. He made friends upon every hand and was esteemed by them as faithful in the discharge of his duties as such. He was a member of Clarke lodge No. 95 of I. O. O. F. As a brother in the lodge ho was respected and his brothers had charge of his funeral. He was laid to rest from his labors under their ritual.

The deceased united with the Christian church at Union Chapel under the preaching of Thos. Brown when but a lad of thirteen years of age. While he may have erred in practice, he never swerved in faith. He believed in God, in the church, in righteousness, and struggled to live the Christian's life. He will meet his God bravely with the story of his life and with God we can safely leave him.
After the funeral his sacred ashes were laid in the family lot in Maple Hill cemetery. May the Father of all mercy watch and care for the bereaved ones.

H. E. Van Horn

Dick Diehl
 

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