Leonard D. Dieken

Leonard Dale Dieken, 89, of Hastings, died on Friday, March 20, 2026, at his home surrounded by his family. Visitation with the family present will be Sunday, March 29, 2026, from 1pm to 5pm at Apfel Funeral Home in Hastings. A private family memorial service and burial will be held at a later date at Concordia Cemetery in Juniata, Nebraska. A Celebration of Life will be Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the DAV in Hastings from 2pm to 6 pm.

Apfel Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences can be sent to the family at apfelfuneralhome.com. Memorials are suggested to the Concordia Cemetery in honor of Leonard’s decades of service to the cemetery board.

Leonard was born on September 22, 1936, at the family home near Prosser, Nebraska to Ekko and Anna (Reiners) Dieken. He grew up on the farm and graduated from Wood River High School in 1954.

He was united in marriage to Darlene (Reeder) Dieken in 1957, making their family home on a farm near Prosser. They later divorced in 2003 but remained friends. Leonard was a farmer his whole life.

He was a life-long member of Christ Lutheran Church in Juniata. He was confirmed in the Lutheran faith in 1949. Leonard never knew a stranger and loved to connect with friends or meet new ones with his quick-witted humor and signature Donald Duck voice. This often took place in a “small town watering hole”. He would reminisce about the good old days right up until the end.

Survivors include his son, Mark of Doniphan; daughters: Lisa Dieken of Hastings and Brenda Brown of Hastings; eight grandchildren: Ashley (Wes) Scherbarth of Juniata, NE, Adam (Andrea) Dieken of Hastings, NE, Brock Merchant of Rogersville, MO, Raegan Merchant of Springfield, MO, Savannah Dieken of Bellevue, NE, Taylor Fisk of Mountain Grove, MO, Andrew Simmonds of Florida, and Darling Dieken of Hastings, NE; eight great-grandchildren with more on the way; and nephews: Jerry Hinrikus of Salina, KS and Myron Hinrikus of Prosser, NE.

Leonard was preceded in death by his parents: Ekko and Anna Dieken; sisters: Wilhelmina Hinrikus and Dorthea Dieken; two infant children: Dale Lemoine and Janiece Lynn; and his former wife, Darlene.