Ila Dieckmann

Ila Mae Dieckmann celebrated her 101st birthday with family on March 5. She passed away a few days later during a quiet nap in her easy chair on March 9th, 2022.

Ila Mae was born in Grant Township, Taylor County, Iowa to parents George Arnold Birch and Marie Elizabeth Rosebraugh. Her only sibling was her brother Harold who was thirteen years older. Harold later died in a serious truck accident. Ila Mae was named after twins - Ila and Mae. The family moved to Matoon, Illinois where she went to college at Eastern Illinois University. She received a degree in business while Howard served in the Army Air Corps flying in Italy during WWll.

Howard and Ila Mae married on December 12, 1942 and settled in Affton, Missouri. They raised two boys: Robert (Joan) deceased (born in 1946) and Gary (born in 1950). They were active in Eden UCC church in Affton. After Howard's retirement from Industrial Sugar, they moved to the Tablerock area near Kimberling City, Missouri. They were active in the Methodist church in Kimberling City. For a while they enjoyed the Holiday rambler trailer RV club. They moved to Springfield MO to be closer to doctors. After Howard passed away on September 23, 2000 Ila Mae moved to St. Louis. Her last years were spent living in Affton with her very good friend Esther Cox. She died at Mattis Pointe Assisted Living.

Ila Mae was close to her niece Joyce Warner the only daughter of her brother Harold. She leaves three grandchildren: Ryan Dieckmann, Eric (Christa) Dieckmann, Kevin (Laura) Dieckmann and two great grandchildren: Bailey Dieckmann and Olivia Dieckmann.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday March 16, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at John L. Ziegenhein Funeral Home, 4830 Lemay Ferry Rd., St. Louis MO 63129, followed by interment at St. Peters Cemetery.