Mayor Fred Diehl
In this “Hi, how are ya? See ya.’ Bye” world, we often confuse acquaintance with knowing. Meet Mayor Fred Diehl.
His full story is in “Recipes for Living” Volume XI:
I grew up on a farm east of Osceola, but was born in Leon, which I claim is the reason I am so short. I was born in the hottest month on record, August 1936, and they gave me Leon water to drink.
I was educated in rural schools before and after we moved to Osceola, and school programs gave me a start in public speaking. Eighth grade students took exams together, and Commencement Exercises were in the First Christian Church, at which time I made my debut in public speaking. In high school I was in plays and sports, attended 4-H conferences and camps, and was in charge of FFA ushers two years at the State Fair. I went to Hawkeye Boy’s State and for 15-minutes was Assistant Secretary of Agriculture. I placed well in State Speech contests.
In my senior year, I had a full scholarship to Iowa State University and became interested in TV and Radio, learning all phases of broadcasting in a weekly live broadcast. The previous summer, I worked for WMT radio in Cedar Rapids.
Anne and I were married in the fall of my senior year. I graduated in the spring of 1958, and because of my participation in ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Field Artillery. This obligated me to active duty after graduation.
My choice of career was to work in agriculture, and I had several interviews. Herb Plambeck offered me a summer job on WHO radio. DeKalb Hybrid Company suggested I accept the Plambeck job, take care of my military obligation, then work for them. I was called to military duty in April 1959.
I was sent to Fort Sill for Officers’ Training School, and had nearly finished my Officers’ School, when my mother called to say my brother had died. That was the biggest trauma of my life! He was my role model. I went home for the funeral, then flew back to take my finals.
I was released, and reported to DeKalb. During my years with them, I was editor of internal publications, then, at 23, was in sales management in Monticello, Iowa. The company hybridized poultry, which led to the origin of egg factories, and selling pullets instead of baby chicks. That took me to Janesville, Wisconsin, where I learned to be my own boss.
We returned to Jones County, Iowa and started a shopper (similar to the Advertiser), until we were bought out. While I was still with DeKalb, I was contacted by State Farm, who enticed me to go into the insurance business. A dictatorial boss convinced me to be on my own.
We were in Osceola for July 4th, 1971, when I took the opportunity to buy an insurance agency. In the 90s, I sold it to the Friday Agency. I still write some insurance.
I’ve been Osceola’s mayor off and on for 12 years. We have made a lot of improvements but there is more to be done. We want to blend our efforts with those of Clarke County Development Corporation, which is concentrating on the corridors. We want to attend to streets and infrastructure, give incentives for people to clean up their property, and tear down abandoned buildings.
Anne and I have four children: Laura, professional photographer and art teacher; David, chiropractor in Pella; Matthew a teacher for Central; Michael a landscaper in Colorado. We have 12 grandchildren. We like to travel. We spend time each winter in the Palm Desert area of California and enjoy visiting a grandson in New York. But we will never get the southern Iowa rolling hills out of our systems. We are here to stay.
