Obituary of Russell Clayton Dieterle

Russell “Russ” Dieterle passed away peacefully on February 26, 2023.  He was born on January 8, 1927, in Irondequoit, NY to Clayton and Alvina Dieterle. He attended Edison Technical & Industrial High School for 2 years before enlisting in the Navy on his 17^th birthday. He served aboard the U.S.S. Lagrange during WWII. It was the last ship hit by Kamikaze planes in the war on August 13, 1945. He then served along the China coast supplying and transporting U.S. Marines.  

After being discharged he was able to attend and graduate from Jefferson High School (veterans’ unit). He worked at Kodak both in Rochester, NY and Windsor, Co where he retired as a Vocational Training Supervisor in 1984.

He met the love of his life Lucille in the 7^th grade, and they were married on June 30, 1951.  The had 2 children Mark and Karen.  He and Lucille loved to travel. The went to all 50 states, the Caribbean, Tahiti, and Germany. Russ loved to fly and earned his pilots license in 1967.

He was heartbroken when Lucille “his sweetie pie” passed away on April 14, 2018, after almost 67 years of marriage.    

He is survived by his sister, Marilyn Armitage – his son, Mark (Barb) and daughter, Karen (Chuck) Smallwood -granddaughter, Kelly (Drew) Lewis and grandson, Eric - 2 great granddaughters, Kennedy and Maggie Lewis and numerous nieces and nephews.  

Russ was grateful that he was able to see the WWII monument in Washington D.C. through the Honor Flight program.  In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Honor Flight.

A Military service will be held at Ft. Logan Cemetery on March 17, 2023, at 10:00 am.