Donald Diklich's Obituary
Donald Diklich, of Fall River, Kansas died Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at the age of 97, after a brief illness. His parents, George and Sara Belish Diklich, immigrated to the United States from Serbia and settled in Conway outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Donald was the third of their twelve children living and he spent his youth in Conway. During the hard times of the Depression he had many jobs, the most interesting of which was his time as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps, helping to build American infrastructure in several states.
As war approached, Donald enlisted in the United States Army. Although he had little formal education, he rose quickly to the rank of E5 Sergeant and was on active duty throughout World War II. He was on the front lines in the European theatre, primarily working to provide communications for advancing troops and including service at the Battle of the Bulge. Donald had many unusual experiences in his Army career. He was a boxing champion for his regiment, he was a member of one of the last mounted units in the Army, he was selected to carry the flag in a Presidential inauguration parade and he once filled in as an orderly for General George S. Patton while on duty near Washington, D.C.
Donald was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, when he met Lillian Grace Bertenshaw, who was working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Manhattan. They were married from 1942 until her death in 2001. After the war ended, Donald and Lillian returned to her home town, Fall River and he began life as a farmer in partnership with Lillian’s father L. J. Bertenshaw. He was still living independently at the farm until a few weeks before his death. He lived a full life and he died as he lived, quietly and on his own terms.
Donald is survived by a son, Richard Diklich and his wife Helen of Liberty, Missouri; three daughters: Alleen Castellani VanBebber of Overland Park, Kansas; Kitty Shinkle and her husband Donald of Mulvane, Kansas and Neva Diklich of Fall River, Kansas; four grandchildren: David Castellani, Andrew Shinkle, Jocelyn Diklich Standley and Jennifer Diklich O’Brien and six great grandchildren: Adam and Rosemarie O’Brien and Avery, Forrest, Rosemary and Lucas Standley. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Lillian, ten brothers and two sisters.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 22, 2012 at the Fall River United Methodist Church. Memorials are suggested to either Fall River United Methodist Church or Fall River State Bank – Fall River Children’s Fund and may be left with the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Countryside Funeral Home, Fredonia, Kansas.
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