On May 1, 2013, at 12:20 a.m., Don Lee Dicke, 77, quietly ascended from the pain and suffering of his physical body into the open arms of our Lord in Heaven, Jesus Christ.

He was born Sept. 30, 1935, in New Bremen.

He is survived by his wife, Lois Ann Berning, whom he married Sept. 13, 1958.

Also surviving are his children, Pamela (Dicke) Miller, Christine Dicke, Michael Dicke (friend Trish Carter) and Todd and Bridget (Schwartz) Dicke. He will be missed by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Luke and Amanda (Seigel) Kuenning, Cara Miller, Derek Dicke, Jacob Miller, Logan and Brook Dicke, Nolan, Halley and Reid Kuenning. His sister, Patricia Now, survives in Coldwater. Her husband, Dale, is deceased.

He enjoyed a very extended family when he married wife Lois.   He is also survived by his father-in-law, Harry Ingram; Jerry and Norma (Berning) Lunney, Ron and Marlene (Berning) Hittepole, Ray and JoAnn (Berning) Meckstroth, Kermit and Barb (Berning) Freewalt and Stan Berning.

It was time to join those on the other side who were waiting for him: his mother, Fentrus (May) (Bill) Dicke; Grandma Burden; mother-in-law, Dorothy; brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Carol Berning; his father, Paul; and step-mother Lodema.

And then there were his old buddies, Jim Wiseman, Tom Kettler and Norm Meckstroth to pick him up in his old '57 Chevy. We hope he is up in heaven enjoying all of the things he had so very little time to enjoy after his retirement in 2004 from Crown Equipment Corp. and the many years of owning Dicke's Service Station, both in New Bremen.

He loved to work in the yard, ride his bike around town and talk to anyone and everyone on his daily travels.

Calling is 2-5 p.m. May 4, 2013, at Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to be made on Don's behalf to the Alzheimer's Association for future research. Condolences to the family may be left at gilberghartwigfh.com.