James T. Dietz of Newcastle, Wyoming slipped away peacefully in his sleep on October 17,2013. Jim was born August 13, 1942 in Kimball, Nebraska, to Herman and Maxine Dietz. He attended school from kindergarten through high school in Kimball County. In high school he played football, ran track, was a band member, sang in the choir, participated in FF A, served on the student council, and was active in his church.
In his junior year, his future wife, Shirley Bentley, moved to Kimball. They graduated from KCHS in 1960 and left for wonderful Wyoming and the University of Wyoming in Laramie. Jim and Shirley married on January 7, 1961 - and the rest is history.
He graduated from pharmacy school in 1968 and moved to Sheridan, Wyoming where he worked as a pharmacist. After 15 years in Sheridan, he moved to Gillette to practice pharmacy there.
In 1985 he was initiated into Gillette Lodge No. 28 A.F.&A.M. In April of 1987 he became a member of Kalif Shrine Temple. He was also a member of the York Rite.
In 1997 Jim and Shirley moved to Newcastle where he worked for Pamida Pharmacy before retiring.
Jim was active in the Newcastle community, singing with the community cantata, attended Christ the King Lutheran Church where he served on the council and sang in the choir, was past president of the Newcastle Country Club, and belonged to the Mallo Board and the Lions Club. He was a Past-President of the Shrine North-South Bowl Board and was a member of Newcastle Lodge #13, Inyan Kara Shrine Club and Royal Order of Jesters.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter, Nicole. He is survived by his loving wife Shirley of Newcastle; three children:
Debbie (Chuck) Dudrey of Sheridan, Jennifer (Joe) Johnson of Luxemburg, WI, and Mike (Sarah) of Plainfield, IL; eight grandchildren, Lisa (Ben) Levin, JD Dudrey; Gregg, Erich and Anna Johnson; Addison, lamison and Emmerson Dietz; and one great-granddaughter Alexandra Levin; brothers Harley (Merceda) and Dale (Jo) of Kimball, sister Elsie (Ken) Vincent of Kimball, and brother Dave (Chris) of Lincoln, NE, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be at 2:00pm Monday, October 21 at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 224 West Road, Newcastle, WY with Pastor John Hopper officiating. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Newcastle.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Newcastle Masonic Lodge Building Fund or Christ the King Lutheran Church.