Gerald E. Dikeman

SIOUX CITY -- Gerald E. Dikeman, 91, of Sioux City passed away Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009, at a local hospital comforted by family.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, September 11, 2009 at Grace United Methodist Church, with Rev. Harold Werley officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 9 p.m. today, with the family present at 7 p.m. and a prayer service at 8 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel, 6200 Morningside Ave.

Gerald was born on Sept. 2, 1918, in Royal, Neb., to Clarence C. and Dena (Johnson) Dikeman. He graduated from high school in Royal before enlisting in the infantry of the U.S. Army. Gerald served his country for five years, including overseas duty in Japan, before receiving his honorable discharge. He returned to the heartland, settling in Sioux City where he attended NBT (National Business Training) receiving his accounting diploma before using the GI Bill to receive his certificate from the College of Advanced Traffic of Chicago via correspondence.

Gerald married Corrine "Pat" Van Waart on Sept. 17, 1949, in Sioux City. He worked for Sioux Soya Mills as an accountant before working his way up to traffic manager. When Cargill bought out Sioux Soya Mills in Sioux City, Gerald remained traffic manager until his retirement in 1984.

He was a former member of the Sioux City Traffic Club and a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge of Morningside. Gerald enjoyed gardening, Nebraska Cornhusker football, monitoring the weather, but found his greatest joy in family and had an exceptional devotion to his grandson Theron.

Gerald is survived by his wife, Corrine "Pat" Dikeman of Sioux City; daughters, Deanna Dikeman and her husband John Howe of Columbia, Mo., and Carol Dikeman of Lenexa, Kan. and her boyfriend, Charles "Chuck" Collins; grandson, Theron Howe of Columbia, Mo.; and sister, Evelyn Punteney of South Sioux City.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, David and Elwin; and two sisters, Vivian Taylor and Beverly Nelsen.

In lieu of flowers, family requests memorials be offered to either Grace United Methodist Church, or to J.D.R.F. (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), 120 Wall Street, 19th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10005.