Walter Diefenbach

Walter Jacob Diefenbach, 92, of Jackson died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Jan. 18, 1922, in St. Louis to William and Frieda Roth Diefenbach. He and Minnie E. Zimmer were married May 20, 1951. She died June 21, 2012.

Walter worked at International Shoe Co. in Jackson. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158 in Jackson.

He served in the United States Army from October 1942 to January 1946, serving in the Northern Solomons, Luzon and the Philippines.

Survivors include a daughter, Martha (Stanley) Koeller of Jackson; a sister, Vernelda McMullin of De Soto, Missouri; 10 grandchildren, Anthony (Amy) Koeller, Jennifer (Drew) Pruneda, Jessica (Justin) Braun, Frederick (Debbi) Koeller, Amanda Calhoun, Jacob Koeller, David (Jennifer) Koeller, Jeffrey Koeller, Jeremy Koeller and Rebecca Koeller; and 20 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Minnie, and a brother, Gilbert Diefenbach.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home and from 9 a.m. until service time Monday at St. Paul Lutheran Church. An American Legion Honor Guard service will be held at 5 p.m. today at the funeral home.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Jason Shaw officiating. Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery with full military honors.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church.