Merwin Richard Dieckmann, MD, 95, of Macon, formerly of Waterloo, Iowa, passed away peacefully on July 6, 2024. Merwin was born November 30, 1928 in Clarksville, Iowa to the late Louis F. and Esther Clara Nordmeyer Dieckmann. The family later moved to Waterloo in 1941. Merwin graduated from West Waterloo High School in 1946. At the age of 17, his world changed forever when he met Betty Jane Baker during a youth play at Trinity Lutheran Church titled “Things Do Happen.” And, so it did… Merwin enrolled at Wartburg College after graduation, but transferred after one year to Iowa State University where he earned a B.S in Chemistry with Minors in Mathematics and Physics.
Betty and Merwin married on September 9, 1950, and Merwin entered the fall class of University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1950. He graduated M.D. in 1954 and went on to internship at Middlesex Memorial Hospital in Middletown, Conn. His Navy Service began August 1955 at Kingsville Naval Air Station until release from active duty August 1957. He continued to serve in the Naval Reserve until mandatory retirement, at the rank of Captain, on his 60th birthday, with more than 33 years of commissioned service. Betty and Merwin returned to Waterloo where he began his medical practice spanning over 39 years. As a general physician, there were house calls to make, fractures to set, surgeries to perform and babies to deliver. It was another time, but when it came time to move his family to Tennessee, in 1976, to assist with establishing a new Medical School at East Tennessee State University, Kingsport, TN…he had delivered almost 2,000 babies, and had become a much beloved family doctor and trusted friend.
As a tenured Associate Professor of East Tennessee State University, he moved to Kinston, NC in 1983 and joined the East Carolina University School of Medicine Family Practice, Greenville, NC, until his retirement. Merwin was active in politics, while in Black Hawk County Iowa he regularly took Election Day off work. He served as an Iowa 3rd district presidential elector in 1972. In Warren County North Carolina, he served on the Board of Election for 13 years, eight years as chairman. Having finally retired in the Macon area, Merwin worshipped at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Norlina, where he served as Secretary, Vice President, President and elder.
Left to cherish his memory are his children, Mark of Warner Robins, GA; Ann Forman of Prospect Heights, IL; Jane Hanrahan and husband Johnny of Kinston; and Nancy Ramsey of Greenback, TN; three grandchildren, Morgan Brown(Mark); Joshua Ramsey(Kaitlynn) and Suzanne Forman; two great-grandchildren, Madison and Grayson. His sister Mary Ann Obenour and husband Jerry; and, brother-in-law Truman Kaiser. Known lovingly as ‘Uncle Doc’ he is also survived by many loved nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Merwin was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Betty; his son David; sister Beverly Kaiser; sister and brother-in-law Janet and Gordy Nieman; brother-in-law Donald Rueckert; brother-in-law Warren Roudebush; daughter-in-law Jenny Dieckmann; son-in-law Marc Forman; and son-in-law Ed Ramsey. And we know Dad would want to thank his caring physicians: Dr. Mark Lanasa, Dr. Danielle Brander, Dr. J. Kevin Harrison, Dr. Courtney Mitchell III, Dr. Laddie Crisp, Jr., Dr. Lee Cox, and Dr. Sukrita Kamboj. As a physician running his office for many years, he knew that the care he gave was made possible by the team that supported him. We thank you all for your compassion and respect.
All obituary information has been taken from the funeral home, newspaper or other online resource.