RUSSELL — Paul George Dietz, 96, passed away April 21, 2015 at the Great Bend Regional Hospital. Born Nov. 3, 1918, on the family farm in Russell County just north of Bender Hill, he was the son of Ferdinand and Pauline (Karst) Dietz.  He grew up in the Bender Hill area and graduated in the Class of 1938 from Russell High School. On June 22, 1947, he was united in marriage to Hilda Bender at the Trinity Bender Hill Lutheran Church. He worked in the grocery business during high school and later owned and operated Dietz Meat Processing Company in Russell from 1953 until his retirement in 1998.  During this time he also continued farming on the family farm.
Mr. Dietz served in the United States Army during World War II from 1942 to 1946 as a Tech. Sgt. in the Pacific Theater. He was a member of the Bender Hill Trinity Lutheran Church, until 1981 when he joined St. John Lutheran Church. He was a life member of the Russell V.F.W. Post No. 6240, Russell American Legion Post No. 99, Russell Elks Lodge, and was on the Board for Kansas Meat Associations.  
Survivors include his wife Hilda of the home; daughter, Barb Dietz of Wichita; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sons, Ronnie, Danny and Randy; two brothers, Emil Dietz and Ernest Dietz; and sister, Tabea Maier.
Celebration of Paul’s Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. John Lutheran Church. A private family burial will take place later. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 6 to 7 p.m.  Military Rites will be conducted at the church during the service.  

Funeral arrangements provided by
Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary
610 N. Maple
Russell, KS, 67665
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, April 23, 2015