Wilford Diederich Obituary (1937 - 2017)

Heaven handpicked one of its very best this past week. Hardworking and generous to a fault, and a dear friend to all who don’t take themselves too seriously, Wilford Karl Hans Diederich was taken suddenly in a car accident on Thurs, June 29, 2017 while on route to his second home at Bear Lake. Wilf was born May 4, 1937 in Kassel, Germany to Hugo Fritz and Anna Diederich, faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He lived his childhood amid the poverty and calamity of WWII. By a miracle, he passed medical screening and immigrated to Salt Lake City with his family at the age of 13. Although he loved his native Germany, Wilford embraced the freedom and blessing of America and returned to it his lifelong gratitude and commitment to hard work. At 15, Wilf’s family moved to a home on Milton Avenue in Sugarhouse, where he attended the Bryan Ward and met Claudia Clay, his dear wife for nearly 60 years. He graduated from South High School, attended Utah Technical College, and pursued a long and successful career in HVAC. He was a past president of the service division of CCI, and then ran his own business (Comfort Level) with his son Mark, who carries on his legacy. Throughout his career, his clients and lifelong friends were the same. Wilford and Claudia are longstanding residents of Holladay, surrounded by family and great friends. Never deterred by the rules, Wilford lived his life by the law of what seemed right and good. His guiding light was the family. He married Claudia in the Salt Lake Temple, served as Elder’s Quorum President, a High Priest, and with Claudia as temple ordinance workers and inner-city missionaries. He enjoyed many years of service and association with the Murray Rotary Club, where he also served as President. He was loved by many and cared about those around him. Wilf showed his affection through friendly sarcasm, serving up underhanded compliments to everyone in his reach. If you could take it you were loved. If you could dish it back to him with a smile he would praise you to all behind your back. Wilf often said the worst we can do to someone else is to ignore them - one rule that he did embrace. He was a tireless provider and a safety net for friends and family in need, and he rarely spoke of his own trials. Wilford loved to travel with his wife and family. Whether in Europe or Lake Powell, at Crystal Cove, St. George or Bear Lake, he literally gave us the world and left us with many cherished memories, often working while we played. For Wilford, the best day would be one spent on his tractor, surveying the beauty of his kingdom at Bear Lake with his family nearby. In the last few months of his life, as a tender mercy to his family, his heart softened and he frequently expressed his love and gratitude to God and to those around him. “It has been an amazing ride,” he said. “I’ve been blessed!” Wilford is survived by his wife Claudia; his children, Howard (Karalyn) Diederich, Ken (Becky) Diederich, Susan (Gary) Gygi, Mark (Kathleen) Diederich, and Brian (Jenny) Diederich, as well as 20 grandchildren and their families, including two great-grandchildren. Wilford will also be missed by his siblings: Hugo Diederich, Margarete Diamond, Elfriede Friend, and Rudi Diederich and their families. Services will be held on Thursday, July 6, 2017 at noon at the Holladay South Stake Center located at 4917 South Viewmont Street (2300 East) in Holladay. The viewings will be held on Wednesday, July 5th from 6:30-8:30 PM and Thursday, July 6th from 10:00-11:30 AM preceding the services. Graveside services will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park following the funeral.