Dennis L. Diedrich

Dennis Leonard Diedrich, 83, of Bloomington, MN passed away on July 24, 2025 after suffering a series of back surgery complications on May 21 and June 11. Denny wanted nothing more than to get strong and recover so he could get back home and take care of his beloved wife Lois, but unfortunately that was not to be and he will be dearly missed. He is survived by his wife Lois, sons Darrin (wife Julie), Devin (wife Taisa) and Dusty, grandchildren Zach, Amy and Deacon. He is also survived by his sisters Dianne Mohn (husband David) and Donna (Pudge) Roberts. He was predeceased by his older brother Darby and parents Leonard "Red" and Florentine "Florry" who will be reunited in heaven. Denny was born on Jan. 20, 1942 in St. Cloud, MN. During the summers of his youth, Denny worked with his father Leonard on his Bernicks pop & beer route being paid $1 per day where they worked long hours typically from 7am to 8-9pm. In high school, Denny worked at Bernicks Bottling Co. at the rate of $1 per day. A highlight Denny often talked about was his 1960 late summer tour of the western U.S in his 1950 Ford with his best buds Denny Wahlin, Darrell Schill and Tom Franke. Denny graduated from St. Cloud Tech high school, when during his senior year he enlisted in the Navy Reserves on Dec. 7, 1959 and went to boot camp during Christmas vacation. Denny was a proud Navy veteran where he served active duty from 1960-1962 as a Petty Officer, Quarter Master 3rd Class on the USS Easton DDE 510 destroyer, certified on the Loran navigational system. Denny's Destroyer escorted the Cuban rebels into the Bay of Pigs Operation and patrolled the seas during the Cuban Missle Blockade. Denny reentered the U.S. Naval Reserve Program from 1962-1965. He was a member of the American Legion Post 550 in Bloomington. Denny and Lois purchased their first home in Bloomington, MN in 1966 and raised their family during the heyday of the burgeoning suburb. They have lived there ever since. Denny worked for Telelect Inc., a manufacturer of utility digger derricks and aerial devices (aka "bucket trucks" and "cherry pickers") in Bloomington from 1963 through 1998 after graduating from Northwest Technical College of Design Engineering. He started as a design draftsman and worked his way through the company in many roles traveling the United States and the world selling digger derricks and bucket trucks to utility companies and government agencies. During 1998-1999, Denny started D Square Services, a word of mouth home repair business, but was recruited by his personal friends to finish out his career working for Fibre Body Industries, DUECO and BRAND FX. Denny was a talented carpenter and woodworker. He was a foreman at the Creekside Community Center wood shop. His house and the houses of his family and friends are full of Denny's original creations. Tables, urns, walking canes, cribbage boards, cutting boards, night stands, wine racks, wall art, crosses, and many many other items will be a special way to remember him. At home, Denny built the family room addition off the back of their house and split his garage in half to extend it out further. Talented family members contributed to the effort. Brother in-law Keith laid the concrete block foundation and Denny's dad Leonard, helped in the construction. For close to 30 years, Denny and Lois had a townhouse on the Fish Hook River in Park Rapids where they spent many wonderful times with their family and friends. Three of the five townhomes were occupied by Diedrich siblings. Darby, Pudge and later Dianne and Dave joined in on the fun when they purchased the unit from Pudge. The Park Rapids area was their playground. Each had an ATV with a phrase routed on wooden signs attached on the back. Denny's said "The Buck Stops Here", a play on words for his deer hunting acumen. Darby's sign said "Deal with it" and David's said "I Luv it". The three of them had many adventures four-wheeling, hunting and fishing. Each year, the family would gather for the 4th of July where we'd have VIP seating for the fireworks which were launched in Heartland Park across the Fishhook River. In 1970, Denny, his father Len, brother Darby and brother-in-law David spent a large part of a mosquito-filled summer building the "DeerShack" on a Hubbard County recreational cabin lease. Gathering at "Len's Bonanza" was a highlight of the year for 52 years. The deer shack was an annual gathering place where many memories were made including waiting for KB101 DJ "Bubbles" to play "Da Tirdy Point Buck" for the deer hunters heading out into the woods on opening morning. The Saturday night grilled steaks with fresh cut potato french fries was the best meal of the year, and of course drinking Manhattans to keep it classy! In later years, Zach and Deacon would come up during MEA for a weekend of four-wheeling and spending time in the woods with Grandpa Denny. Denny made sure he and his sons had comfortable deer stands. As Telelect replaced the fiberglass buckets from the trucks, we'd hoist them up into the trees. Denny of course made the Taj Mahal of deer stands and split his bucket in half and extended it larger. Outfitted with a swivel chair, a "Lil Buddy' propane heater, Denny made deer hunting comfortable and was successful from his stand more often than not. Denny loved his grandchildren dearly, Zach, Amy and Deacon and made every effort possible to attend their events and give them all of his love and support. For Christmas and Birthdays, they received elaborately wrapped gifts that required their most focused efforts always accompanied with laughs and smiles abound. Denny made each of his grandkids custom treasure chests with secret compartments, night stands, clothes trees and any number of projects they requested. They just had to provide Grandpa with the "specs" and he would deliver. Denny outdid himself when he built Amy a customized American Girl Dolls wardrobe and triple bunk bed. Everything he made for them was amazing. And of course, a birthday wouldn't be complete without a gift of the current year's coin set from the U.S. Mint and a $100 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond. We will equally remember and miss Denny's firm bar paw handshake where he would look you in the eye with a smile and make you feel important. His warmth, laughter, welcoming demeanor and generosity will never be forgotten. Visitation and Funeral followed by lunch will be held on Friday August 8th at Washburn-McReavy Dawn Valley Funeral Chapel and Memorial Park 9940 Bush Lake Road Bloomington, MN 55438 11am Visitation Noon Funeral Service Lunch

Tributes

Dennis L. Diedrich

January 20, 1942 - July 24, 2025

Tributes

Dennis L. Diedrich

January 20, 1942 - July 24, 2025

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