Kathy Dietz

Greeting/Opening Prayer

We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of Kathy Dietz—a faithful woman, a beloved mother, a friend, and a servant of the Lord.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today with hearts full of emotion—grief, gratitude, and hope. We gather in this sacred space to honor and remember the life of Kathy Dietz, a beloved woman who touched so many lives with her kindness, her faith, and her unwavering love for You and for others.

Lord, in moments like these, we lean on You for comfort. Your Word tells us that You are near to the brokenhearted, and so we invite Your presence to fill this place with peace that surpasses all understanding. Wrap Your arms around this family—be their strength, their shelter, and their song in the night.

As we celebrate Kathy’s life today, may every word spoken, every memory shared, and every song sung reflect the legacy of a life lived for You. Help us not only to mourn her passing, but to rejoice in the truth that she is now in Your presence, where there is no more pain, no more sorrow, and no more death.

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of Kathy. May her faith continue to inspire us, and may this service bring You honor.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, we pray,

Amen.

Obituary

Kathleen June Dietz, 94, of Corning passed away on March 26, 2025 in Red Bluff.  

Kathleen was born on June 1, 1930, in Whittier, California, to Marinus and Ella Bischel Pedersen.  She grew up in Whittier,  where she demonstrated an early passion for athletics, especially tennis and played competitively while in school. She was known as Cappy to her family and friends.  After graduation from Whittier High School, she attended Whittier College.

On June 17, 1950, Kathleen married Edward L. Dietz, Jr. at the chapel on the Cal Poly campus in San Dimas. The couple moved to Corning and began farming olives and were blessed with three daughters, Susan, Julie and Sally.  The family moved to Red Bluff, Davis, and then Huntington Beach, returning to Corning in 2001.  In the 1970s, Kathleen pursued further education at Orange Coast College, studying nutrition.  After graduation, she worked in that field for several years.

Her deepest passion was for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Kathleen lived her life with unwavering faith, consistently putting God first, with her beliefs guiding her actions and relationships.  She also loved being in the mountains near Mineral at the family cabin, fishing, hiking and keeping Ed company during his annual deer hunt.  Genealogy and family history were also enjoyed by the couple, as well as traveling to visit their European family and roots.

Kathleen was predeceased by her husband, Edward, and her brothers, Kenneth and Gordon Pedersen. She is survived by her daughters, Susan (LeRoy) Anderson, Julie (Ted) Patton, and Sally (Phil) Manoukian.  Her legacy continues through her grandchildren Stephanie Patton, Shelby (Ben) Vyborny, Max Manoukian, Emma (Sam) Chung and great-granddaughter, Lincoln Vyborny.  She is also survived by her Pedersen and Dietz nephews and nieces.

Kathleen June Dietz will be remembered for her deep Christian faith, her devotion to her husband and family and the many memories she helped create for all of us.  She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who lived a life of purpose, passion and profound spiritual commitment.

Amazing Grace (Song) - Carly

Eulogy Reading - Susan

The Lords Prayer (Song) - Valanne

Sharing of Memories

Message (Pastor James)

In the words of Paul to Timothy he writes:

2 Timothy 4:7–8 NASB95

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Kathy understood this promise and she now has her crown of righteousness and is with Jesus at this very moment. To be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord.

I. Kathy Fought the Good Fight

She stood strong in her faith through every season.

She prayed, served, and loved with grace.

Her life testified of the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness.

She understood that no matter what she went through in this life, her victory was found in Jesus.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 8 that despite what we go through in this life, we can have an overwhelming victory through Christ who has loved us. The Good News is, this victory is for anyone and everyone who gives their life to Jesus.

This Good News of victory goes beyond the here and now, but transfers into eternity.

II. Kathy Finished Her Race

I believe the moment Kathy took her last breathe here on this earth, she drew her first next to her Savior and heard the words - well done my faithful servant.

She fulfilled her purpose as a woman of God, a mother, a friend.

Her legacy will live on in the lives she touched by the telling of stories and memories of her life here on earth.

So, we do not grieve without hope.

Paul reminds us of this hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 NASB95

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

There is a hope of seeing her again. Kathy knew where that hope came from. Her hope was in the man named Jesus. And while right now you may be grieving, there is a hope of seeing our loved ones again who went to be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 NASB95

17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

But we have to start the race like Kathy did and give our lives to Jesus. Kathy not only gave her life to Jesus, but she kept the faith.

III. Kathy Kept the Faith

Her confidence was in Jesus Christ, even unto the end.

Proverbs 3:5–6 NASB95

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

She leaves behind an example for us to follow. Even now with this service, the songs especially, she continues to leave an example for us to follow. She requested Amazing Grace be played.

Think about it for a moment:

Amazing Grace: This song expresses deep gratitude for God’s mercy and forgiveness, highlighting how grace can redeem even the most lost and broken person. It reflects a personal transformation from spiritual blindness to newfound faith and hope through God’s unearned love.

Kathy at one point in her life was lost and broken and she knew she needed not something, but someone to help her. At some point in her life she felt the love of God, a love that she never felt before. She turned to Jesus and experienced both that love and grace.

Understanding that the grace she experienced wasn’t just meant for her. But for anyone who needed it. So a request was made that when she past from this world and began eternity in Heaven that those left below who hear those words and hopefully begin their faith journey with the Lord as well.

If that describes you this morning, I would love to speak with you and tell you about Kathy’s Lord and Savior Jesus. I am sure if Kathy was here, she would want to do the same.

Here is my Closing Thought:

“If Kathy could speak to us now, she’d say: ‘Run your race, love Jesus, and don’t give up.’”

Let us pray.

Closing Prayer

God,

As we prepare to leave this place, we thank You for the opportunity to honor and celebrate the life of Kathy Dietz. We are grateful for the time You allowed us to share with her—for her laughter, her wisdom, her compassion, and her unwavering faith. Her life was truly a reflection of Your love.

Though our hearts are heavy, we rest in the promise of Your Word—that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. We rejoice that Kathy now sees You face to face and is experiencing the fullness of joy in Your presence.

Lord, we ask that You continue to surround this family with Your peace in the days to come. Bring comfort in quiet moments, strength in weakness, and hope in sorrow. Help us to carry Kathy’s legacy forward—loving others as she did, serving faithfully, and keeping our eyes on eternity.

May Your grace go with us now, and may Your Spirit continue to remind us that You are near.

In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray,

Amen.

This concludes the service. On behalf of the family, please join us in the social hall, a lunch has been provided. I encourage you to sit, eat, and continue to share memories of Kathy as often as you can.

Our prayers continue to go out to the family in the days to come.