Dylce L. Dietz

Dylce Lionel Dietz, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Friend, Engineer and Craftsman died on December 18, 2026. Born July 30, 1929 in Sterling, Kansas to Louis and Ethel Dietz, Dylce married Louise Holland Dietz (Dukelow) on December 27, 1950. He was a man who prized family, music, and excellence in whatever he chose to do. He was constantly in search of a project. Attending Sterling area schools and then Kansas State University, he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho while at K-State, making lifelong friends.

Through his cousin, he met his future wife, Louise, on a blind date. He began a career as a farmer with both dairy cows and agriculture outside of Sterling, With the responsibility of children, and need for more reliable income, he picked up any job he could, including, construction, refinishing pews at Sterling United Methodist Church and the offer of working for the local telephone exchange in surveying the population concerning who would be interested in the new dial services. During this time, the family enjoyed many al fresco picnics at Sterling Lake after his work or camping next to the Arkansas River.

He continued to farm part time until the demands of his new career in 1962 ended farming. He rose from a pole climbing lineman at the MidKan Telephone Exchange in Sterling to become State Plant Engineer for a three-state region with Continental Telephone. Upon retirement in 1985, he continued working as a telecommunications consultant for 15 additional years. His work was well respected in the Kansas telephone industry for his 50 years tenure. Most of the old telephones found at the Museum of Independent Telephony in Abilene, Kansas were restored by Dylce.

His interests and skills outside of work amazed all those who knew him. He restored cars for his sons, including an Austin Healey Sprite, several Volkswagen Beetles and Karmann Ghias. He restored and owned with a friend an old inboard Chris Craft boat putting in a new engine. Boating provided many wonderful hours of fun on Kansas lakes for he and his family. He built sailboats and sailed on Pomona Lake. Whether it was metal, wood, cars, boats or even landscaping, there were few skills which he could not master. He rehabilitated three homes for his family over his life, but the masterpiece showcasing his skills was taking a historic Ottawa home built in 1876 and reengineering it to look period correct while having modern convenience and meeting historic preservation standards. His willingness to help others in his neighborhood with restoration and repair without concern for compensation highlights why he is remembered for his kindness, expertise and knowledge. Dylce’s physical and mental condition invoked awe as it was present until the final two months his life.

His one brother, Valdean, preceded him in death. Dylce is survived by his wife, Louise Dietz of Ottawa, Kansas; son Mark Dietz (Melissa) and grandson, Grant Dietz, all of Georgetown, Texas; daughter Carole Domogala (Dan) of Phoenix, Arizona, granddaughters, Jeannette Gatlin (Chris King) and great-grandsons, Oliver and Sullivan King of Seattle, Washington, and Cara Gatlin of Ottawa, Kansas; son Steven Dietz (Barbara) of Merriam Kansas; and granddaughters Annalise Dietz of Baltimore, Maryland and Alayna Dietz of Annapolis, Maryland, the daughters of son, James Dietz, who preceded him in death in 2019.

A Celebration of Dylce’s Life will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, February 28, 2026 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 401 W. 13th Street, Ottawa, KS 66067. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date at the Sterling Cemetery, Sterling, KS. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Franklin County Historical Society and sent in c/o the Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 14, Ottawa, KS 66067. Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.   

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