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Obituary For Henry Antoine Michael Diederich
November 17, 1927 – June 9, 2023
On June 9, 2023, Henry Antoine Michael Diederich passed away suddenly at the age of 95 years at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital with family and friends by his side.
Henry has resided at Dieppe Manor for the past 10 years, the first 4 with his wife Myrtle until her passing in 2017. Henry enjoyed his Dieppe years making new friends, card playing, his Wednesday afternoon singing group, potluck suppers (mashed turnips being his trademark dish), the exercise room, his woodworking shop where he worked on his diamond willow creations, making the coffee in the mornings even though he never drank it, and joining the morning coffee times to solve the world’s problems. Dad loved his scooter and made a lot of trips on the trails around Crystal Lake, or sometimes to sit and watch the swans and listen to the red wing blackbirds songs.
Previous to living at Dieppe, Henry had made a beautiful home in the Dimsdale area for 45 years, with a deck that had a view of the mountains and sunsets that Henry & Myrtle enjoyed together.
When they were married June 29, 1950, they made their very first home in Bezanson on the Diederich homestead. Many fond memories were made here at the Bezanson homestead where all 5 of their children were born to them. They resided in Bezanson from 1950 – 1968.
Henry was born November 17, 1927, to Michael and Madelaine Diederich in Luxembourg when his parents and sister Annie had returned to visit their families. Henry grew up mainly on the family homestead, apart from 7 years spent at St. Augustine’s Mission near Peace River after his mother passed away in April 1929, returning home for Christmas and summer holidays. Henry attended school for Grade 4 – 8 at East Kleskun School and then attended Lindsey High School near Bezanson, riding horseback to get to both schools.
Henry, wishing to serve his country, joined the army in the WWII War effort just after his 17th birthday, taking a train from Grande Prairie to Calgary to enlist. At the #13 District Depot, Calgary, Alberta on December 21, 1944, Henry enlisted as a member of the Canadian Army, Regiment # 319295. He trained at Calgary Depot, then on to depots at Saanich BC, Saskatoon Vocational, Hamilton Ontario and Woodstock Ontario training schools completing training as a rifleman in Canadian Infantry Corp and Qualified Driver – Military Vehicle Infantry Corp. Total military service was 10.5 months and Henry received CD and MS – Canadian Army Decoration. The war was declared over in 1945, and Henry was discharged, returning home to his family and to help his Dad, Michael, and Uncle Joe with the farming. His Uncle John Diederich lived near on his own homestead, and his Aunty Lidwine and Uncle Oscar and his Albinati cousins lived a few miles away and all were a big part of younger years.
Henry’s first job out of the army was working for Bruce Hollingworth in a Railroad Tie Mill north of smith, Alberta where they made 16 foot ties. Later, he hauled lumber for Charlie Lept and also hauled lumber for Moon’s Mill. It was here at Moon’s Mill about 1948 that he first met Myrtle Sloat of Northmark, and she swept him off his feet. They were married on June 29, 1950, and spent their honeymoon on the banks of the Wapiti River, with a small paddle /motorboat and a tent. Henry helped with the farming, but continued working out in the winters driving cats, in lumber mills and on road construction for many years for Cyril Binks at Bink’s Mill, for Norton Brothers, and then later for Thrifty Contracting, Pat Garrett and McGuire Contracting.
Henry was passionate about most things he laid his hand to and did them to the max. One of his passions included playing baseball for Bezanson Eagles and the Clairmont Monarchs. Dick Howarth mentioned that he never saw anyone run like Dad, “he could run like a deer” Dick said.
He also had a love for horses second to none, and was excellent in their training, having them so gentle and quiet he could load them in the pickup box of the truck with no stock racks or pull us behind them for a wild west ride with a lariat and a cowhide. Horse and buggy family rides are such a good memory for all of us! Dad said he spent a lot of time on horseback as a kid, riding to school, or across the field where Pat Garrett grew up to pick up the mail at Glen Lesley Store, or helping with the horses for farming and threshing.
Dad with Mom’s help had a herd of Charolais cattle both in Bezanson and then at Dimsdale, through artificial insemination they struggled and strived to get their herd to purebred level. Dad loved those white cows!
Dad loved Diamond Willow and spent many hours watching from his quad in the bush for them, then cutting, peeling, carving, sanding and polishing. Each one of us kids proudly displays a diamond willow sign post or other diamond willow carving.
Henry also enjoyed many years of curling and is listed as a donator in 1963 to the Bezanson Curling Rink. He boasted just a few times of wins in the Dimsdale Bonspiels, and enjoyed many years in the Grande Prairie Senior’s league until he retired his broom at the young age of 94 years!
Dad loved watching his favourite sports teams on TV, especially the Edmonton Oilers or the Toronto Blue Jays! If any of their games were on, he would ditch you in a heartbeat!
Dad loved music and played by ear. He played guitar, accordion, mouth organ, and sometimes the piano. Some of our fondest memories are the singing and playing times and learning to dance in our living room homes at both Bezanson and Dimsdale. He continued his love of singing with a Wednesday afternoon group at Dieppe Manor right up until he went to the hospital. He was happy when he finally convinced them to play some of “his” country songs where he could yodel.
Dad had an absolute love for quadding. In retirement Henry enjoyed many quad trips and camping trips with Myrtle and lots of close friends and family to areas around Grande Cache, the Kakwa, Caw Ridge, Horn Ridge, Red Deer Falls, the Burnt Hills, Puswaska and many more places. Myrtle & Henry’s cone-picking years were hard work and somewhat profitable, but gave them even more opportunity to spend time being outdoors on their ATV’s on the trails he discovered all those years working in the bush. Those same trails he would find and return to many years after, on his trike, then his quad, then his acer, then his side by side.
Last but not least, Dad had a love for his church, stayed faithful through the years of changes, attended 9:00 am mass every Sunday possible, sat in the 3rd pew from the back on the left hand side, and was a little miffed if someone sat in his spot. He said his prayers every night, even in his last days at the hospital you would see him make the sign of the cross and whisper his prayers to the Lord. Dad we wish you a peaceful rest in heaven in the arms of Jesus, and a happy reunion with your loved ones and friends gone before you. Start mapping out more quad trails for us, Dad, for when we are reunited with you once again.
Henry is survived by and will be fondly missed by: special friend Mary, as well as his children: Danny & Maureen Diederich (Shane & Christina; {Bradley & Courtney {Luke Jake & Zach}, Jessica, Allie, Rachelle}, Shawna), Donna & Don McNally (Bret & Jody McNally {Chloe, Sloan, Layne}, Darby McNally & Melaika). Trudy & Garry Mayne, (Brad & Stina Sklarchuk {Paige, Parker}), Dallas Mayne & Elena, Stacey & Kier Robertson {Lennix, Kane}. Barry & Jarron Diederich, (Riley, Tenille & Elvis Ibrahim {Elisha, Ella}, Carter & Mikenzie, Spencer & Brenden), Clint & Velda Diederich (TJ & Courtney McKenzie {Dexon, Cohen, Nash}, Brooke & Matt Prince {Archie} and sisters-in-law Margaret Sloat and Rose-Marie Sloat as well as many precious nieces and nephews and friends.
The care extended to Dad by Doctor Martin and his nurse Sheila was so professional yet kind and caring and we extend our thanks and gratitude to them! Thank you also to the GP Emergency staff, the ICU Doctors and nurses for their rapid response to Dad’s needs, and to Matt and Kyle and all the other nurses on Unit 23 for Dad’s care and making Dad’s last days as comfortable as possible.
Henry was pre-deceased by his wife of 67 years, Myrtle, his parents Michael & Madelaine Diederich and parents-in-law Henry & Irene Sloat, sister Annie Bulford (Harvey); sisters-in-law Margaret Taylor, Hazel Villneff (Orville), Ivey Thomsen (Henry), Mildred Jobson (Julian); Dorleen Uhyrn (Leonard), Mable Jantz (Sam); brothers-in-law: Jay Sloat, Alfred Sloat (Erika), Henry Sloat (Edith), Lloyd Sloat; and Floyd Sloat.
A Funeral service for Henry Diederich will be held at St. Joseph’s Church in Grande Prairie Alberta on Tuesday June 20th at 10:00 am. Lunch will be held following at St. Joseph’s Church Parish Hall. Interment of Henry Diederich’s ashes will be at Spring Creek Cemetery following the funeral lunch at approx. 3:30 pm Tuesday June 20, 2023.
Dad loved his Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Blue Jays, so if you choose, we invite you to wear these team jerseys or t-shirts to his funeral celebration; or alternatively, he also loved bright colour shirts, especially red.
In lieu of flowers, those that wish may make a donation to a charity of one’s choice in Henry’s memory.
Care entrusted to Bear Creek Funeral Home 780 830 7742 bearcreekfuneral.com
Services
20
Jun
Funeral Service
10:00 AM
St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church 10404 102 St Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2W3
17/11/1927 09/06/2023
Death notice for the town of: Grande-Prairie, Province: Alberta
death notice Henry Antoine Michael erich 17/11/1927 09/06/2023
obituaries notice Henry Antoine Michael erich 17/11/1927 09/06/2023
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Henry Antoine Michael erich 17/11/1927 09/06/2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
