Wilmetta (Weaver) Dietzel
Obituary
Wilmetta Dorothy Weaver Dietzel, 95,
died Saturday (Sept 24, 2016) at Schowalter Villa in Hesston. She was
born Aug. 25, 1921, at Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton to Harry
Lester and Margaret Dorthea (Deschner) Weaver of Hesston. On July 12,
1946, Wilmetta married Arnold J. Dietzel at Hesston Mennonite Church
(HMC) in Hesston. She was baptized at age 10 at HMC in Hesston and
was an active member of HMC for many years.
Wilmetta graduated from eighth grade at
French School (rural Hesston) and was a 1940 high school graduate of
Hesston Academy. After one year at Hesston College, she went to
nursing school at La Junta Mennonite Hospital in La Junta, Colorado,
and graduated in 1944 as a Registered Nurse (RN).
Wilmetta had a long career as an RN,
missionary and travel agent. She worked as an RN at La Junta
Mennonite Hospital in La Junta, Colorado, at Axtell Hospital in
Newton, at Bethesda Hospital in Goessel and at Peninsula General
Hospital in Salisbury, Maryland.
She was a missionary RN when she and
Arnold served five years in India at the Shantipur leprosy home and
hospital. As a travel agent, Wilmetta worked at the Menno Travel
Service (MTS) office in Beirut, Lebanon; and then she devoted many
years to the MTS office in Newton. She retired from MTS in 1988.
Wilmetta resided in North Newton for 44
years. In 2008 she moved with her husband Arnold to Schowalter Villa
in Hesston. He preceded her in death on July 4, 2014.
Wilmetta enjoyed gathering family
stories and genealogy, embroidery, gardening, and spending time with
her family and many friends.
Wilmetta is survived by brother Milford
(Barbara) Weaver of Hesston; son Ronald L (Shirley) Dietzel of
Newton, daughter Margaret E. Hillegass of Hollsopple, Pennsylvania;
daughter Carol J. Cranston of Newton; seven grandchildren: Rhonda J.
(Tracy) Sanders of New Braunfels, Texas, R. Loren Dietzel Jr. of
Tomball, Texas, Justin A. Dietzel of McPherson, Christina D. (Aaron)
Clement of Kansas City, Kansas, Elizabeth L. Hillegass of Canton,
Ohio, John R. (Michelle) Hillegass of Akron, Pennsylvania, and
Shondra J. Cranston of Newton; plus eight great-grandchildren: Cory
M. (Jordan) Cleri of Houston, Jaime L. Cleri and Wyatt J. Sanders of
New Braunfels, Texas, Ryann L. Dietzel of Tomball, Texas, Ava M.
Dietzel of McPherson, Elijah H. Clement of Kansas City, Kansas, and
Greta D. Hillegass and Jeremiah R. Hillegass of Akron, Pennsylvania.
A celebration of Wilmetta's life will
be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday (Sept. 29, 2016) at Hesston Mennonite
Church with Chaplain Wendy Miller and Pastor Amy Nissley Stauffer
presiding. Private family interment will be in Eastlawn Cemetery at
Zimmerdale (rural Hesston).
In lieu of flowers, memorials are
suggested to Mennonite Central Committee in care of Hesston Mennonite
Church, 309 S. Main, Hesston, KS 67062.
Petersenfamilyfuneralhome.com
