Johnnie Dietle

Funeral services for Mrs. Johnnie Pentecost Dietle will be held Wednesday, January 4, 2006 at 10:00 a.m., at the Pollock United Methodist Church with Reverend Eddie Carpenter officiating. Mrs Dietle died on Thursday, December 29, 2005, after a long illness. At the time of her death, she was at the home of her daughter, Katy simoes, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She was 88 years of age.

Mrs. Dietle was born May 11, 1917, at Rochelle, LA, to John and Laura Nugent Pentecost. Her school years were spent at Pollock School, and upon graducation in 1934, she went to nursing school with the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word at Schumpert Hospital, Shreveport, Louisiana, where she received her nursing degree. She joined the Army Nurse Corps where she met her husband-to-be, Jack F. Dietle. They were married on November 29, 1941, at Fr. Monmouth, New Jersey, and Johnnie settled into life as an Army wife and eventually, mother. After Jack's retirement from the U. S. Army, the family moved to Pollock and immediately became involved in numerous civic and religious activities. She continued her nursing career at Baptist Hospital and Dresser Industries, where she served as Plant Nurse.

Mrs. Dietle was a charter member of both the Louisiana Pecan Festival Association and The Pollock Dogwood Festival Association. She was the honoree of both the Pecan Festival Parade, as well as the Dogwood Festival Parade on separate occasions. She was a member of the Pollock United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir for many years and served in the United Methodist Women as an officer on both the local and district levels. She served for many years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Wesley-Westminster Foundation at Northwestern State University. She was also a charter member of God's Recycled Angels. She was a member of the Pollock Alumni Association, and the Grant Homemaker's Club. In 1981 she was named an Alderman for the Town of Pollock, where she served until1995. In her capacity on the Board of Aldermen, she served as Pollock representative for North Centrala. She was a member of the District Five Fire Board from 1981 until 2001. In 1995, the Fire Department named their new tanker "Miss Johnnie" in her honor.

Mrs. Dietle was preceded in death by her husband, Col. Jack F. Dietle; a son, John Edward Dietle; her parents, John and Laura Pentecost; brothers, Joe B. Pentecost and JimY. Pentecost and sister, June P. Pilgrim; and two grandsons, Jack Nelson "Wee Jack" Dietle and John Wesley Young.

She is survived by one sister, Juanita P. Allen, of Pollock; one son, Jack Rodney Dietle and wife, Linda, of West Monroe, Louisiana, daughter, Katy Simoes and son-in-law, Tony of Bethleham, Pennsylvania, and daughter-in-law, Sandra Young Dietle of Monroe, Louisiana; granddaughters, Gina D. Hamaker and husband, Tom, of Fayetteville, Arkansas; John Mark Dietle and wife, Sarah, of Fayetteville, Georgia; Karen S. Miklus and husband Tim of Stafford, Virginia, and David Simoes of Bethleham, Pennsyvania. Also five great-granddaughters, Madison Miklus, Anna and Erin Hamaker, Molly and Maggie Dietle, as well as a large extend family. Finally, she is survived by a host of friends and colleagues.

Pallbearers will be David Simoes, John Mark Dietle, Tim Miklus, Tom Hamaker, Marvin Johnson, Gabriel Johnson, Jonathan Johnson and Joe Pentecost.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Dietle and M. P. "Peanut" Johnson.

Visitation will be held at Hixson Brothers, Pineville on Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and from 8:30 a.m. until services at the church. Memorial donations may be sent to Pollock United Methodist Church or the charity of one's choice.

To extend online condolences to the Dietle family, please visit us at www.hixsonbrothers.com.

Originally published January 2, 2006