Urban Dietzenbach, 97
Thu, 01/02/2020 - 5:14pm
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Feb. 28, 1922 —
Dec. 29, 2019
CRESCO - Urban Hugo Dietzenbach, age 97, of Cresco, Iowa passed away on Dec. 29, 2019, at Cresco Assisted Living.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, at Notre Dame Parish in Cresco, with Father Jacob Rouse officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Cresco. A visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, 2020, at Heritage Events Center, Cresco, with a scripture service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the time of service Saturday at the church.
Urban was born on Feb. 28, 1922, northeast of St. Lucas, Iowa, near the Turkey River on the farm homesteaded by his grandfather, who emigrated from Germany in 1864. Urban was the son of Joseph and Mary (Hackman Kortzendorfer) Dietzenbach. He went to school in Festina, Iowa and then on to St. Luke’s, graduating from the eighth grade. After graduation he farmed with his dad.
On Oct. 3, 1944, he was united in marriage to Lucy Schmitt at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas. They farmed east of St. Lucas for about six years before moving to Cresco in 1951. In 1991, Urban retired and moved to Cresco. Even in retirement he never really retired from the farm, always helping out when he could and proud of his family carrying on the farming heritage.
Urban was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Farm Bureau and served on school and church boards. He made hundreds of rosaries for the missions, rest homes and hospitals. He loved to travel, including around the United States and to Germany in 1984. He enjoyed fishing, playing cards, watching TV, reading and checking the crops. He loved to tinker and invent things and actually got a patent on a feed wagon.
One of the fondest memories for the family was when Urban dug an in-ground, plastic-lined swimming pool in the back yard for all the kids. He enjoyed visiting with friends and family and especially the grandchildren.
Urban was proud to be the patriarch of five generations. The couple celebrated 75 years of marriage on Oct. 3, 2019. He recently reminded Lucy again that she was the best present he ever received.
He is survived his cherished wife Lucy (who is 93 years old); his children, Don (Jan) of Evergreen, Colo., Jim (friend Barb), Robert (friend Mary), JoAnne (Gary) Larson, Dean (friend Deb), Kevin and Dale (Julie), all of Cresco; 21 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Urban is also survived by his in-laws, Edmund and Norma Schmitt, Gerald and Rosetta Schmitt, Alex Schmitt and Helen Noska.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph (1949) and Mary (1926) Dietzenbach; two sons, Duane and Richard; two daughters-in-law, Kathy and Sherie; two sisters, Marie (John) Huber, and Rita in infancy; brothers, Hugo (Irene), Herbert (Mildred), Joe, Edward (Louise), and Francis (Helen); half-brothers and sisters, Theresa [Kortzendorfer] (Paul) Herold, Katie [Kortzendorfer] (Alois) Nolte, Nick (Edythe) Kortzendorfer and John (Loretta) Kortzendorfer. He was also preceded by his in-laws, Shirley (Croatt) Schmitt, Gene Noska, Leo (Della) Langreck, Irma (Leonard) Bullerman and Arthur (Agnes) [Riha] Schmitt.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Howard County Community Hospice, 225 8th Ave. West, Cresco, IA 52136.
