Lawrence Diel passed away peacefully on August 8, 2021 at his Nevada City home surrounded by family. He was 86 years old.
Larry was born on April 30th, 1935 in Fresno, California to Frederick and Anona Diel. Larry grew up to love football and played for the Fresno High School championship team in 1952. After he graduated from Fresno High School in 1953, Larry went on to Washington State University until the death of his father forced him to return to Fresno. Larry worked to help support his mother and two sisters until he was drafted into the Army in 1958. He served in the Army until 1960 and began work for Pacific Bell Telephone Company as a line repairman. In 1960 Larry met his future wife, Ronni Therault on a blind date; they were married shortly after and spent the next 57 years together. Over the years Larry moved up the career ladder to become a line repair supervisor while Ronni focused on raising their three children.
In 1976, Larry and Ronni moved their family from Walnut Creek to Nevada County. Larry continued to work for Pacific Bell, first in Auburn then in Grass Valley until a heart attack forced his early retirement in 1987. After Larry retired, he and his wife Ronni traveled to Europe and also visited many places across the United States in their RV. Larry was a longtime member of the Elks Club and visited many of their club houses nationwide while traveling in his RV. Sadly, Larry and Ronni’s traveling years were cut short by an illness and Ronni was laid to rest on December 19th 2017 at Sierra Memorial Lawn in Nevada City.
After Ronni’s death, Larry spent more time with his children and grandchildren. Larry was an avid patron of Humpty Dumpty and became fast friends with the staff. In the last two years of his life he reconnected with his old Fresno High School classmates and often took trips to see them. It was on one of these trips that he was in a car accident from which his ailing heart never really recovered. He was preceded in death by his wife Ronni in 2017 and his dear friend Carol Rice in 2019. Larry is survived by his sisters Beverly and Sandy, his children Holli, Steven and Robin (daughter-in-law Lauri), and his two grandsons, Erich and Nathan.
Larry was always ready to help those in need, loved his family and friends, and was always a good neighbor. He will be sorely missed. Larry’s family is extremely grateful for the compassionate care that Dr. Constance Gaulter, Dr. Stephen Peters, and Hospice of the Foothills gave him during his illness. Because of this gratitude, Larry’s family would suggest that any memorial contributions made in his name should go to Hospice of the Foothills or Wounded Warriors Foundation. Graveside memorial for family and close friends will be held Friday October 8th, 11:00 A.M. at Sierra Memorial Lawn Cemetery.
