Willard J. Dickel

Long-time Marengo farmer Willard Dickel died Monday, April 22, 2024, at Compass Memorial Hospital surrounded by his loving family at the age of 96 years after a rich and fulfilling life. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 26 at the Middle Amana Community Church with Elder Alan Trumpold officiating. The family will be at the church from 9-11 a.m., to greet visitors. Burial with Military Honors conducted by the Marengo American Legion Post #76 and the U.S. Army Honor Guard will be in the Middle Amana Cemetery.

Willard was born Nov. 18, 1927, in Middle Amana to Jacob and Louise (Schmieder) Dickel, the youngest of five children. His life was turned upside down on May 6, 1936, at the age of 8 when his mother died very unexpectedly. His four older sisters took on the task of substitute mother, for which he was forever grateful.

Following graduation from Amana Community High School, Willard enlisted with the U.S. Army, during which time he was stationed at Ft. Lewis, WA where he worked as a clerk and typed discharge papers for soldiers returning from World War II. He was proud as could be in 2013 when he was selected for Eastern Iowa Honor Flight, his first time in the nation’s capital.

After his service to the country, he worked as a carpenter for his brother-in-law Henry Shaefer’s construction company in Davenport, Iowa. Using his GI Bill benefits he enrolled at Iowa State University earning a double degree in agronomy and economics. He was also president of the Adelante Fraternity. Willard never tired of telling about his time at Iowa State and was especially proud of passing Quantitative Analysis in his senior year.

Willard returned home to Amana following graduation working for Amana Society farms. It was during that time he met the love of his life, Mary Lou Aiken, at a Swisher dance. The couple were married on Oct. 23, 1954. Willard and Mary Lou raised five children living their early years of married life in Amana and then moving to the Aiken farm west of Marengo about 1968.

Willard loved his family, farming, and the Chicago Cubs. As a farmer he was always looking for new opportunities, eventually purchasing a number of farms across Iowa County. With the 1980s Farm Crisis approaching Willard and his son Chris embarked on a new adventure, purchasing land in Northern Missouri where they grew crops, hogs, and cattle.

About 2000 Willard and Mary Lou decided to return to Iowa County, moving into family’s Amana house. Chris and his family continue to own and operate the Missouri farm.

Willard’s “retirement” was filled with gardening, visiting, and entertaining their large family and friends, and trips to the casinos. He served as a mentor for his grandson Jim Yenter, who runs the Marengo farm. He was also quite successful in managing his investments.

Willard is survived by: five children, Sharon (Terry) Roberts of Marengo; Dean (Mary) Dickel of Mineral Point, WI; Joan (Russ) Jones of Williamsburg; Chris (Donna) Dickel of Green Castle, MO, and Danny (Mandy) Dickel of Marengo; 16 grandchildren; 37 greatgrandchildren (including one on the way); and his special nephews Jack and Carol Shaefer, who was also his best man.

Willard was preceded in death by his parents; wife Mary Lou in 2022; and four sisters Johanna Kellenberger, Marie Shaefer, Betty Blechschmidt and Wilma Shaefer.

Memorials may be made to the Marengo American Legion Post 76 or the Amana Historical Society.