Kenneth Hugh Diehl

Kenneth Hugh ” Big D” Diehl, age 72, of New Philadelphia, died late Saturday evening, March 24, 2007, in Aultman Hospital at Canton. Mr. Diehl was born at Dover, October 20, 1934, a son of the late Hugh Jessey Diehl and his wife Daphna Harbaugh Diehl.Mr. Diehl attended school at Dover before embarking on a career with Greer Steel that would span 43 years. While at Greer, Kenny earned one of the best attendance records of any employee. Rarely missing a day’s work, he was well-regarded for his excellent work ethic, and above average skill at rolling steel. So rare was a mistake by Diehl, company officials actually put on display one of the “Big D’s” rare crushed coils, near the entrance to the plant. The same year he went to work for Greer, Kenny met and fell in love with a gal he met while roller-skating at the Tuscora Park Roller Rink, the former Viola Ann Yosick. The couple wed January 7, 1956, in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and recently celebrated their fifty-first wedding anniversary. Active in the community, Kenny’s memberships include the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Loyal Order of the Moose, the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, and Post 1445 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, all of New Philadelphia. For many years, Kenny was a familiar face in Limby’s at Dover, where the first dollar earned by the establishment was said to have come from the “Big D”. Kenny was especially fond of his family, and took much delight in teasing his grandchildren with a stuffed alligator. Mr. Diehl retired from Greer Steel in 1997. Later in the year, he became ill, and for the past nine years, he has bravely endured many medical tests and treatments, many times bravely facing grave odds. His strong will and steady, firm demeanor earned him the affection of many of the staff in Dr. Schmotzer’s office, some of whom have treated him the entire nine years of his illness.In addition to his wife, Kenny is survived by his daughter Debora (Mark) Wenger of Uhrichsville; three sons, Edward (Charlene) Diehl of New Philadelphia, Kenneth (Tracy) Diehl of Minerva, and Robert A. Diehl of New Philadelphia. He’ll be sadly missed by his seven grandchildren, Amanda (James) Lama of Canton, Lindsaye (Stan) Dombrowski of Dennison, Airman First Class Nicole Wenger (whom grandpa affectionately called Charlie) of Holloman Air Force Base at Alamogordo, New Mexico, Madeline Diehl of New Philadelphia, Anna Diehl of North Canton, Brandon Reed of Minerva, and Briana Diehl of Uhrichsville. A sister, Ethel (Tom) Martin of Bolivar, and his pup terrier Sadie, completes the family. In addition to his parents, Kenny was preceded in death by two sisters, Dorothy Wile, and Alma Thompson, and a brother, Arthur Diehl. Friends are invited to call Thursday, March 29, from 2-4PM and from 6-8PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia where Christian Wake Services will commence at 7:45. Monsignor George J. Schlegel will celebrate Mass of Christian Burial Friday morning, March 30, at 10:30 in Sacred Heart Church. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, New Philadelphia. Following the committal service, family and friends will return to the church for a reception in St. Ambrose Hall. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 West Third Street, Dover, OH 44622, or to Sacred Heart Church, 139 Third Street NE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.