LES DIEHL

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LES DIEHL At the end of a full and meaningful life, Les Diehl died at his home in Boissevain on Thursday, November 26, 2009, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Cypress River, Manitoba, September 20, 1929, to Charles and Mary Diehl, Les was the youngest of six children in a fun loving, musical, farm family. As a boy roaming the hills and fields of Swallow Glen farm he early developed an appreciation of the sacredness of the natural world, a conviction that prompted a life long concern for the environment. On the farm he learned also the value of good hard work and the satisfaction of a job well done, lessons that lasted his lifetime and were reflected in every task he undertook. In 1958 he married Anna Grace Wall and they created a home in Boissevain for their four children, Cheryl, Charlene, Heather and Michael; and their extended family of much loved younger siblings, nieces, nephews and friends. As a building contractor he helped build a better Boissevain for over thirty years; as a committed citizen and volunteer extraordinaire he helped build a better community by participating with enthusiasm, joy and good humour in various aspects of community life as long as he lived. St. Paul's United Church, Boissevain Recycling Project, Town Council, Tiny Turtle Playroom, Boissevain Theatre, Habitat for Humanity, Boissevain Palliative Care and many other worthy causes benefited from his skills and can do attitude. In retirement he and Anna Grace explored Canada from east to west and south to north, always marveling at the variety of geography and seeking to experience life with the locals. Just as he relished time with his local golfing, bowling, recycling and drama club buddies, he savoured the fun of a Jigg's Dinner in Newfoundland, an impromptu concert in Cuba, a bottle of wine and good food in a French village after a day of cycling or a day on the tundra with an Inuit hunter. Cherishing his memory are his wife Anna Grace; his children Charlene, Heather and Les Harder, Michael and Tiana Diehl; his beloved grandchildren Emily, Ben, Annika and Naomi Diehl, and Liam and Anna Diehl-Jones. Rounding out the family circle are his eldest sister, Iris Carroll; many sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; and a whole collection of wonderful nieces and nephews. He is also treasured by a host of good friends, young and old, from his local community but also spread far and wide in Canada and beyond. Les was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Mary; his brother Jim; sisters Rilda, Alice, and Doreen and their husbands Stan Carr, Howard Smythe and Earl Noble; brothers-in-law Verner Carroll and Bob Wall; daughter Cheryl Lynn; and granddaughter Chloe. At the funeral service to celebrate his life on Monday, November 30, a picture of a laughing Les was surrounded by these words: Live well, laugh often, love always. Live simply, speak kindly, care deeply, love generously. Laugh as much as you breathe and Love as long as you live. They were his mantra, and in perfect evidence to all who knew him. “The glory of God is in a man fully alive.” - St. Irenaeus. Killarney Boissevain Funeral Home

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 19, 2009