PEKIN ~ Edward Arthur Diekhoff, 84, of Pekin, passed away at 8:45 p.m. Saturday, July 3, 2010 at Apostolic Christian Restmor, Inc. in Morton.

He was born December 9, 1925 on a farm east of Delavan to John Folkert and Irene Hermina (Groenewold) Diekhoff. He married Helen “Joanne” Thompson on January 31, 1948 in Pekin.  They were married 54 years.  She died March 10, 2002.  He also was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Thelma and one brother-in-law, Bill McMakin.

Surviving are two daughters, Mary Ann (Michael) Adkins of New Albany, Ohio and Tona Diekhoff of Wichita, Kansas; one son, Randy (Anita) Diekhoff of Pekin; two grandchildren, Amanda (Brad) Schneider of Granville, Ohio and Patrick Adkins of Reynoldsburg, Ohio; three great grandchildren, Ella Jo, Nolan Bradley, and Violet Susan Schneider, all of Granville, Ohio; several nieces, nephews, brother-in-laws, and sister-in-laws.

He was a member of the Army Air Corp from March 17, 1944 to September 19, 1945 during World War II, the United States Air Force from November 7, 1945 to November 7, 1948, and then recalled from October 14, 1950 to October 14, 1951 for the Korean War.

He had an associate degree in Electrical Engineering.  He loved to travel, fish, play Euchre, and tinker with anything electrical.

He retired from CENTEL Telephone Company after 35 years and then worked for Executon Company for 7 years until Joanne retired so they could travel.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran church of Pekin since 1955.

His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 10, 2010 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pekin.  The Rev. Dr. Rodger P. Abatie will officiate.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the memorial service at the church. Private burial will be in Prairie Rest Cemetery in Delavan, where military rites will be provided by the United States Air Force and the Delavan American Legion.
 
Cremation has been accorded by Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Tazewell Animal Protective Society, 100 Taps Lane, Pekin, IL 61554.