Wayne Mark Dittrich

Wayne Mark Dittrich age 78 passed away at Cottagewood Senior Communities, Rochester, MN on Saturday, July 10th, 2021.

Wayne loved sharing his joy with friends, family and anyone near him.  His playfulness was infectious, a party starter.

Shared his joy and fullness of life and God’s love by selling and giving-away vegetables. A trait he came by honestly.

As a brother, he taught baseball, dancing, farrowing sows, tying double Windsor knot, and spit-shining shoes. Wayne danced all his life, often the first and last on the dance floor.

His weaknesses included: a very large sweet tooth, traveling, where he placed a hammer or wrench or parked the old farm truck or the side-rake.

Wayne was always there to help family and friends when they needed to get away for a wedding, a funeral, or county fair. He would babysit, fix fence, milk cows and bale hay. No matter what you needed, you could count on Wayne to be there!   

Generous by offering to borrow his “fast “car, and honored to take his best friend’s mom on errands and to the hair dresser.

Wayne never arrived without something in his hands.  Always knew when it was supper time, could see him coming down the gravel road.  Truly a giver, even when he had little to give. Always polite, the first to open the door, or help put on your coat. 

Sincerely kind to others and optimistic about life and his fellow man, whether they were white, black or brown. Generous and kind in the belief and value of others.

If you needed to remember when someone was born, married, died, or when the crops got planted back in 1961, just give Wayne a ring.

He carried farming memories well into his battle with Alzheimer’s, along with the history of who had owned familiar farmsteads, reminding you as you drove past. Farm memories triggered by the sights, sounds and the smell of manure, alfalfa, or corn silage.

Always concerned about soil conservation, whether there were grassed waterways, or water erosion on a farm field.

Wayne is survived by siblings, John (Pat) Dittrich, Kellogg, MN, Kay (Bob) Rodrigue, Stanchfield, MN, Connie (Mike) Schad, Zumbro Falls, MN, Mark (Margaret) Dittrich, St Paul, MN, Terry (Cynthia) Dittrich, Greensboro, NC, Rene (Brian) Schneider, Plainview, MN, Antoinette (Chip) Brumm, Lakeville, MN, Michele (Bob) Jech, Eyota, MN and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Marcus and Lucille Dittrich; siblings, Mary Jane, Ervin and Margaret Dittrich.

Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, July 28th, 4:00 pm at St Joachim’s Catholic Church in Plainview with Father William Becker officiating and a burial will be at the St Joachim’s Catholic Cemetery following the Mass. Their will be no visitation.  Also, please join us to celebrate Wayne’s life at the Plainview American Legion at 5:00 pm, a meal will be provided.

The Family wants to thank the wonderful and caring staff at Cottagewood Memory Care and Heartland Hospice.  They all loved Wayne’s smile and his genuine kindness. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to:

BrightFocus Foundation  (Working with the Mayo Clinic and Wayne participated in their Research)
22512 Gateway Center Drive
Clarksburg, MD 20871
Phone: (800) 437-2423
E-mail: info@brightfocus.org

Plainview Public Library

345 1st Ave NW, Plainview, MN 55964

Program for Seniors

507.534.3425

Schad & Zabel Funeral Home in Plainview is assisting the family with arrangements.

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