Obituary index

Charles Raymond Dierker

[September 30, 2009]  Charles Raymond Dierker, 92, of Lincoln, died peacefully Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 29, 2009, at his Christian Village home.

To celebrate God's goodness to Raymond, there will be visitation and a service at Zion Lutheran Church in Lincoln. The visitation times are 4-7 p.m. Friday and 12:30-1:30 p.m. Saturday. The service will be at 1:30 on Saturday.

Burial, with military rites, will be in New Union Cemetery.

Arrangements are being handled by Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln.

Mr. Dierker was elected secretary-treasurer of Lincoln/Logan County Fire Mutual Insurance Co. in 1963 and served in that capacity for 21 years before retiring in December 1983. In 1980 he became president of the Illinois Association of Mutual Insurance Cos. He managed and operated the family farm following his military service.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving from 1942 to 1945. He was stationed in Jacksonville, Fla., and Newfoundland.

He was born June 24, 1917, in Lincoln, the only child of Herman and Belle Schwantz Dierker. While stationed in Florida, he met Ruth Hinkley, whom he married June 4, 1944, in New Smyrna Beach.

He is survived by his three children, Carol Dierker Wieg (and husband John) of Hampshire, Janet Dierker Whiteside of Winter Park, Fla., and Richard Dierker (and wife Lisa) of Groveland; and six granddaughters, Carrie and Carleen Wieg, Allison and Amy Whiteside, and Kristin and Kayla Dierker.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ruth; one sister-in-law, Naomi Hinkley; and a son-in-law, Custer Whiteside.

He was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church of Lincoln and served the church in several capacities. He was also a member of American Legion Post 263 and Rotary. As a Rotarian, he served as president in 1973 and 1974 and was a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary International.

In addition, he was a school board member for Chester-East Lincoln School, serving as treasurer for 24 years.

He was chosen as Courier Man of the Month in October 1981.

He graduated from Lincoln Community High School and Lincoln Business College.

Raymond enjoyed good conversation and a game of pinochle. He was particularly fond of spending his Thursday mornings at Men's Coffee at The Christian Village.

Memorials may be made in Raymond's memory to Zion Lutheran Church or Zion Lutheran School in Lincoln or to Lincoln Christian Village.

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