[Genealib] Diane Dieterle 1939-2007 - Well known genealogist; organized a genealogy library for the blind & handicapped

[Kemp, Tom]

Salt Lake Tribune, The (UT) - March 8, 2007

Courtesy: www.GenealogyBank.com <http://www.genealogybank.com/>  

Diane Dieterle

Diane Dieterle "World's Greatest Genealogist" Diane Shutley Dieterle,
age 67, died Wednesday, March 7, 2007 in West Jordan, Utah from
complications of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. She was born March 16, 1939 in
Atlanta, Georgia, to Charles Crosby and Mary Weaver Williams Shutley. 

 

She was a graduate of Decatur High School and from Jacksonville State
University, Jacksonville, Alabama, with a BA in History and English. She
was a professional genealogist. She joined The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints March 13, 1958 and always said it was the best
decision she ever made. She was always active in the church and devoted
her entire adult life to the family history program. During her lifetime
she amassed 69,000 family names in her computer and had enough temple
ordinances done by proxy to fill up the entire 21,000 seat LDS
Conference Center. She married John H Dieterle June 6, 1960 in the Salt
Lake Temple. 

 

She and her husband never had a "real" vacation, choosing instead to
make every trip a genealogical trip. In the last five years she had made
four trips back to Europe to bring home genealogical records from
Germany, France, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. During her lifetime
she published 13 family histories. Her church positions included
Assistant Mission Genealogy Advisor (twice), Stake Family History
Consultant (three times), Family History Center Director (three times),
Ward Family History Consultant (many times), Gospel Doctrine teacher
(for about 30 years), Primary President (twice), and a counselor in
Relief Society and Young Women presidencies. Her favorite callings were
always the teaching callings. She and her husband served two family
history missions, first as the Directors of the New York City Family
History Center, and later as missionaries at the Family History Library
in Salt Lake City. 

 

Her most notable accomplishment was organizing and operating the
Genealogical Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Inc., in
Atlanta, Georgia. She designed pedigree charts and family group sheets
in both Braille and large print for the blind. She wrote and starred in
a six part TV series for the deaf called "Genealogy in Sign." She also
wrote and starred in a 12-part TV series called "Genealogy for Fun" that
aired on PBS for 17 years and still runs on occasion in the southern
states. 

 

Survived by her husband, Lt. Col. John H Dieterle, West Jordan; their
children: Mary Lorraine Dieterle, Lehi; Claire Elizabeth Dieterle,
Taylorsville; Benjamin Christian Dieterle, Salt Lake City; Charlotte
McKenzie Dieterle Hatch, West Jordan; son-in-law, William Victor Hatch;
three grandchildren: Kevin William Hatch, Elizabeth McKenzie Hatch,
Caroline Michelle Hatch; brothers: Ronal Shutley, Alpharetta, GA; Crosby
(Bing) Shutley, Converse, TX. She was preceded in death by her beloved
firstborn, John H Dieterle, Jr., who received one of her kidneys. He
died November 9, 1988 in Atlanta, Georgia. The family will receive
visitors Saturday, March 10, 2007, 12:00-1:30 p.m. at the Cobble Creek
Stake Center, 8150 South Grizzly Way (5410 West), West Jordan, Utah
where the funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be in the family
plot in the Decatur Cemetery, Decatur, Georgia on Monday, March 12,
2007, 2:00 p.m. Arrangements under the direction of McDougal Funeral
Home. 

 

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