News

James E Adams 

17 Dec 1930 – 6 Feb, 2024

Jim served a total of 6 years, 1949 to 1956, in the U S Navy. He served 20 years as a Regular U.S. Army officer in the Corps of Engineers. The Military Records show entitlement to medals for Korean Service, National Defense Service with 1 bronze service star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign with 1960 Device, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, United Nations Service, Parachutist’s Badge, Vietnam Service with 1 silver and 3 bronze service stars, Navy Occupation, Overseas Service (2) and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation. Upon retirement he served 10 years in Public Works in Edmonds and Mukilteo. 

He is survived by his spouse, Fem; his two daughters, Kathie Adams and Judi Wheeler, plus two grandchildren, Nicole Noel and Micah Wheeler. 

Until recently, Jim was a very active member of our Post. No one enjoyed Buddy Poppy distribution more than Jim (as you can see) ! 

Fred J. Diedrich 

20 July 1923 – 1 March 2024 

Fred was born in Jerome, Idaho to Pearl and Fred Diedrich. His family moved to Marshfield, OR (now Coos Bay), where he grew up. When World War 2 started, he volunteered for the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division, and was stationed in Wollaston Park, England. There, he met and married Maud Annie Mary Stanley, aka “Nancy” in 1945. 

During the war, he parachuted into the Invasion of Normandy at St. Mere ‘Eglise, the Battle of the Bulge at St. Vith, Belgium, Operation Market Garden at Nijmegen, Holland and was an honor guard after the war in Berlin. He received an honorable discharge, was awarded a bronze star, and later received the French Foreign Legion medal of honor for his service liberating France. 

His wife Nancy was later transported to the US with other war brides and children on the Queen Mary Ocean Liner and the Empire Builder train to reunite with him in Oregon. He and Nancy lived in several locations including Nottingham, England, Roseburg, Oregon, Albuquerque, New Mexico and most recently, Seattle, Washington. After the war, Fred had a career in the plywood industry, and Nancy had a career in banking. They also built and renovated a multitude of houses and had many successful real estate ventures.  

Fred was a trickster and a kidder – loved a good laugh, good food and good company. He kept himself busy tinkering in his wood shop, building houses, churches, sheds, helping others with their building projects and puttering around. He and Nancy traveled extensively when they retired in their late 50’s and were devoted gardeners.

Fred is survived by his wife Nancy, his son Richard Diedrich, M.D. and his wife Angela Fernandez Diedrich, their children, his son Paul Diedrich, Structural Engineer, and his wife Betsy Braun. He was predeceased by his parents, siblings Ida and her

husband Don Kelly; Dick Diedrich and his wife Mary; Esther and her husband Ed Conley; Betty and her husband Grover Rigsby,; Louise and her husband Carlos White, and sister Alice Diedrich. He had 7
grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, numerous other relatives, a multitude of friends and acquaintances including the lunch club at the Edmonds Senior Center, the Edmonds Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8870, his Seattle neighbors, and many others.

He will be interred at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington later this year, and a celebration of his life will occur then.

Many thanks to Past Commander Fred Apgar for this obituary.