Wallace Edwin "Wally" Diede
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5C - September 26, 2021
Wallace
“Wally”
Edwin Diede
November 6, 1939 - August 29, 2021
On Sunday, August 29,
2021 Wallace “Wally”
Edwin Diede passed away
at the age of 81, at the VA
Hospital.
Wally was born on November 6, 1939, in Richardton,
North Dakota, to Adolf and Matilda Diede. He graduated
from Hebron North Dakota High School in May 1959
and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on
July 15, 1959. He proudly served our country until
Honorably discharged on July 12, 1963. While attending
the University of Montana, he met and married Sharon
Jones-Diede in 1967, and had two children, Doug Diede
and Lori Diede-Ladd.
Wally had a great passion for sports officiating of
baseball, basketball, football and softball. He started as
a sports official at the age of 20, while serving in the
military. He respectfully tried to resign, from his hospital
bed from USSSA Fastpitch Western Slope Director and
Umpire in Chief, but was told his resignation was kindly
not accepted as, “How could they find a replacement?”.
He loved to work with kids just starting out in sports as
he could teach them as he officiated their games. Wally
just recently won the 2020 Veteran of the Year from
the Colorado High School Umpire Association. He was
also passionate about the Lion’s Club and very proud
of the Anne Sullivan Award for outstanding dedicated
service for collecting used eye-glasses to be sent to third
world countries. He cherished and loved his family and
made sure we knew it! He loved God and our Country
and saluted his flag outside his front door every time he
walked past.
Wally was preceded in death by his father, mother,
and brother, Darwin. He is survived by his ex-wife,
Sharon (they remained good friends through the
years); sister, Doreen; sister-in-law, Betty; son, Doug
(Kacey); grandson, Tanner; daughter, Lori (Chris);
granddaughter, Lauren; grandson, Jaxson, along with
nephews, a niece and a large extended family all of
whom he was always “so very proud” of. He is also
survived by many great friends including David Mejia,
Russ Bergquist, and Larry Neth.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at the
Lincoln Park Barn in Grand Junction Wednesday,
September 29, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. Wally had requested
that sports officials attending wear an officiating
uniform of choice. A family only private burial will
take place at the Veteran’s Cemetery.
Donations, in Wally’s name, to the Redlands Lion’s
Club, USSSA Sports, or the VA Hospital, all of which
Wally was proud to be a part of, and may be mailed to
632 Gallegos Street, Erie, CO 80516
