Fred Edward Dieckmann

Fred Edward Dieckmann, 90 year old Yreka resident, passed away on Monday, April 11, 2016 at Fairchild Medical Center. Fred was born February 6, 1926 in Woodcliff, New Jersey. His father, Fredrick Walter Dieckmann, came to the U.S. with his parents from Germany when he was 2 years old. Fred’s mother, Anna May Van Pelt, was born in the U.S. Fred started working in his father’s auto shop as a boy of 8 years old, and by the time he was a teenager, could repair most anything mechanical. When World War II happened, he joined the U.S. Navy in September of 1943, at 17 years old. After boot camp, he was rated MOMM 3rd class and assigned to an LST in the engine room. He quickly achieved his MOMM 1st class rating. He earned 2 stars in the Asiatic Pacific and 2 more stars in the Phillipine Liberation. In December of 1944, his ship was hit by a Japanese Kamakazi aircraft and began to sink. When the captain called “Abandon ship”, Fred hit the water and swam away quickly. When he punched up his life waist tube, he found it full of flak holes and lost all air. He looked around and spied a life raft in the distance. He knew it was a gamble, but decided to try to swim to it. He had learned to swim in the Hudson River and was an excellent swimmer. While trying to reach the raft, when he tired, he would turn on his back and float for a minute or two, then turn over and keep going. He was almost ready to give up when he reached out and touched the raft. It was full of survivors, so he wound his arm around the outside rope and hung on. A U.S. destroyer picked them all up later and dropped them off at one of the island bases. From there, he was shipped to California’s Camp Shoemaker, where he was discharged on May 30, 1946 at the age of 20 years old. While Fred was at Camp Shoemaker, he met Loree Wolery on Thanksgiving day, 1945 and they dated and became engaged in April, 1946. As soon as he received his discharge papers, the couple went to Reno, Nev. and were married on June 5, 1946. After their marriage, Fred and Loree resided in San Francisco for 5 years and in 1952, they moved to Redwood City where they purchased a small house on the GI loan program. After working as a mechanic in many car dealerships, Fred decided he wanted his own shop and in 1962, he rented a small shop and specialized in front end alignment and brakes. Business grew strong and in 1965, the couple purchased land and had a specialized shop built. In 1976, Fred retired and sold the business, which is still in operation. Fred always enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, hiking the mountains, camping, etc. The couple decided to move to where these were plentiful and, in 1981, picked the ideal place in Fort Jones, bought some land and built their home, overlooking the valley all the way to the Marble Mountains. They lived there for 24 years until moving to Yreka in 2008. In addition to his wife, Loree, of Yreka, Fred is survived by a daughter and her husband, Cassandra and Albert Dehoff of Plymouth; a son and his wife, Fredrick (Rick) Jr. and Jill of Ft. Jones; 3 grandsons, Jason Dehoff (Gabrielle) of Ione, Kevin Dehoff of Plymouth and Nathan Dieckmann (Rahwa) of Portland, Ore.; 2 great grandsons, Kidane Dieckmann and Bodie Dehoff and a great granddaughter, Shelan Dieckmann. He was preceded in death by 2 brothers. Fred was a loving, caring man. His helpful nature and great smile will be sorely missed. Per his wishes, no services are planned at this time. His ashes will rest in the Ft. Jones Cemetery in the valley that he loved. If desired, donations may be made in his name to Madrone Hospice, 255 Collier Circle, Yreka, CA 96097.

Fred Edward Dieckmann

February 6, 1926 - April 11, 2016