Joseph Dean Dietz, 16 Oct 1930 - 13 Mar 2022

DIETZ, MEYER, SHIELDS, HAAG, CALLAHAN

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 3/24/2022 at 14:21:20

Joseph Dean Dietz, 91, Rogersville, Mo., passed away peacefully following a sudden illness at his home, surrounded by his family and his dog, Sassy, on March 13, 2022. He was born Oct. 16, 1930, in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of the late Frank W. and Ava Dietz.

Joe attended Roosevelt High School, graduating in 1948. He started college in 1949 attending Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, before being called to serve his country in 1950. While in the service, Joe attended the Naval Hospital School. He was a proud Navy veteran of the Korean War aboard the destroyer USS Collett. He was a corpsman (medic) and was awarded the following medals: National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Medal and the United States Service Medal. He was able to attend his Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., in 2015.

Joe married Florine Meyer Shields on March 15, 1969, and excelled at many jobs prior to becoming a professional horse trainer along with his wife, Florine. He was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and Joe and Florine showed multiple World Champion Quarter Horses during their years of training. Joe loved fishing, HORSES, going to casinos and could shoot the breeze with anyone. He loved to joke, tease and pretend to be a grouch but was pretty sweet on the inside.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Florine; his children, Patty (Steve) Haag, Mike (Gisele) Dietz, Bob (Tracey) Dietz, John (Shari) Dietz, Keith Shields and Lonnie (Janet) Shields; 13 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Tom Dietz and John Dietz; a son-in-law, Jerry Callahan; and a daughter-in-law, Lynette Dietz.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, March 16, at Zion Lutheran Church in Seymour, Mo. Burial will follow at a later date at Cedar Memorial Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Published in The Gazette on March 22, 2022.