He was born May 9, 1933 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Warren Charles and Thelma Searle Diehl. He married his childhood sweetheart Luana Joy Wood on June 9, 1952 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Before her passing in 2002 they enjoyed 50 wonderful years together raising 4 children, playing tennis, skiing, traveling the world, and many other activities and adventures. He married Ann Zenger on June 12, 2003.
He was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and thoroughly enjoyed and cherished the friendships and memories that were made throughout the years.
As a young boy his constant companion was his faithful dog Mike. He loved riding his horse Annabelle with his dog in the foothills on the east side of Salt Lake.
His business career started in his early teens with a small flock of chickens and selling the eggs to the neighbors. This business grew to over 2,000 chickens.
After graduating from Granite High School he enrolled at the University of Utah and joined the Air Force ROTC to become a pilot. He originally was studying to get his degree in Chemical Engineering but later switched and earned a degree in Air Science. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force on Dec 18, 1954 and later reported for duty with the USAF at Lackland Airforce Base in San Antonio, Texas and received his wings in June of 1956.
He and his father Warren founded Diehl Lumber Products Inc. in 1957. His brother Claude joined the company in 1958. In 1964 he, his brother Claude, and his father-in-law Rex Wood founded a truss manufacturing company called Utah Components and Manufacturing Company. This company would later become Interstate Homes a modular housing manufacturer.
He lived life to its fullest spending as much time as he could with family and friends.
He enjoyed snow skiing, playing tennis, boating at Lake Powell, riding horses at his ranch in Woodland, UT. Later in life he started golfing and enjoyed spending time at his condo in Palm Desert, CA and later on at his place in St. George, UT.
He was a Man of integrity. He was also a very selfless man that was kind, honest, generous, and very willing to help anybody in need. Everyone that knew him respected and adored him.
He is survived by sons Gary (Shadow), Terry, Rick (Anne), daughter Suzi Diehl Eichers, 9 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, sister in laws Judith Ann Wood, Karen Wood, wife Ann, step children Chris (Yoko), Kathy (Bob), Tom (Jamie), Sue, Mike, Marianne (Jonathan), 14 step grandchildren, and 1 step great grandchild.
We would like to thank Stefanie and Hector from Summit Hospice for the care they gave and the love and compassion they had for Dad and our family.
We would especially like to thank Mele Tuiaki and Lepolo Nimo. We are so very grateful for their love, care, and compassion they gave and the companionship they provided Dad and the family during the last 7 weeks of his life when he needed 24 hour care. We love you!!
Funeral Services will be a Private Family Service due to COVID.
