Harlan A. Dietzel

Harlan A. Dietzel, 91, died Saturday, October 17, 2015 in Timbercrest Healthcare Center, North Manchester, IN. He was born in Huron County, Michigan on a farm near Bay Port on December 29, 1923. Harlan is survived by his wife Mildred A. Dietzel, children Stanley J. (Sarah) and Dennis L. (Marianne); grandchildren Naomi (Chris), Isaac (Mitra), Kevin (Ranae), and Soren; great grandchildren Sterling, Scarlett and Laila; brother Reuben; sister Helen; and 21 nieces and nephews. On October 5, 1946 he was married to Mildred Anna Hobbs in Fort Wayne, Indiana at the Smith Street Church of the Brethren. At age 19, Harlan started a 4-H club in the Bay Port community, which worked to establish rural electrification. He subsequently won high honors at the National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago. After World War II Harlan joined the Merchant Marines as one of the seagoing cowboys to assist European countries devastated by war. The United Nations had just organized a relief agency to send cattle and horses by ship from the United States. These ships had been outfitted to haul servicemen to the war zones. Harlan, at age 21, was assigned to prepare the first ship out of New York Harbor for hauling animals. With the help of the longshoremen, he began to plan and direct the job and completed the task as he had been taught on the farm. In all he took three trips to Europe, two with horses and one with cows. This project evolved into the Heifer Project International. The leadership skills he developed through these projects served him for the rest of his life, both in his work as a pattern maker and foundry manager, and in service to the Lincolnshire Church of the Brethren, where he was a deacon, trustee, member of the building committee, Sunday School teacher, and camp leader of junior high youth. He was also a 4-H club leader and a Junior Achievement judge. During retirement, Harlan was a volunteer advocate for senior citizens who had financial problems or who suffered life losses. He was a driver for the Red Cross, delivering emergency blood to hospitals in northern Indiana and Ohio; and a volunteer delivering mail and flowers to patients at Lutheran hospital. He also enjoyed the out-of-doors, playing golf, traveling around the U.S. with his wife, and reading. After his retirement he read through the entire Bible, including the Aprocrypha, two times. Harlan and Mildred moved to Timbercrest in 2009. Throughout life Harlan was a gentle, giving person. These traits were revealed to all those caring for him when Parkinson's Disease became a life-limiting issue. Memorial service Monday, October 26, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Timbercrest Chapel, 2201 East Street, North Manchester, IN. The family will receive friends following the service. Pastor David Bibbee will officiate. Burial will be in Leo Cemetery, Leo, IN at a later date. For those who wish to honor the memory of Harlan Dietzel, memorial contributions may be made to Heifer Project International, PO Box 8058, Little Rock, AR 72203 or Lincolnshire Church of the Brethren, 6404 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne, IN 46807. To send a private condolence to the Dietzel family, use the condolence link on the homepage.