Veril "Dick" Dietzmann

Veril Vanu (Dick) Dietzmann, 91 years of age, passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, surrounded by family.

Veril (Dick) Dietzmann was born November 21,1934 in Brenham to C.F. and Lillie (Naumann) Dietzmann. He was baptized at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Gay Hill and confirmed at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Sandy Hill by Rev. A.W. Weber.

Dick’s family moved to a community outside of Robstown, Texas where he attended Petronila Grade School. He loved to play basketball and played on the 7th and 8th grade basketball team.
His family moved back to Brenham where he lettered playing on Brenham High School basketball team.

On December 28, 1957, he married Barbara Jean (Shane) Winkelmann at Salem Lutheran Church. The first two years of marriage they lived in Junction City, Kansas, where he was serving his military service.

Veril served his military duty in the Blue Spader 26th Infantry of the 1st Division, known as The Big Red One, as a sergeant. His military service was two years of active duty, two years of active reserve, and two years of inactive reserve. After his service in Fort Riley, they moved to Cypress, Texas.

Veril was active in Cy-Fair Sports Association serving as a coach and assistant coach to his sons, Cary and Brian’s baseball and basketball teams. He was known to go and pick up his players if they needed a ride to practice or games and take them back home.

Veril spent his entire working career of forty-five years in the steel fabrication business, working for Metallic Building Systems, Kirby Building Systems, National Steel Corporation and ended up working with his best friend in Elroy Wellmann Construction Co.

Pop is what his grandson, Hunter, called him. They had so much fun together and Pop enjoyed every minute of his time with him. Pop was very proud of Hunter, especially when he graduated from Texas A&M with honors.

Veril traveled with Barbara on some of her work travels, but the biggest enjoyment was traveling with friends, visiting many of the National Parks, including Alaska and Hawaii.

After Barbara retired, they moved back to the family farm in the Salem community. They were part of a group at Brenham Fitness and three times a week they exercised and drank coffee and were always looking for a reason to bring food to eat.

In retirement, he loved to deer and turkey hunt, fish and garden. He always planted more than needed and enjoyed giving produce to friends. He loved to put together puzzles and bring them to the gym to show off his work.

Veril was a member of Salem Lutheran Church and served on the cemetery committee, Salem VFD, American Legion, and the Salem Shooting Club until it disbanded.

Veril was preceded in death by his parents, C.F. and Lillie (Naumann) Dietzmann; sister and brother-in-law, Fern and J.R. (Doc) Calloway; grandparents, Carl and Amelia (Hahn) Dietzmann, Ed and Melinda (Schultz) Naumann; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Louis and Lillie (Kramer) Winkelmann; brother-in-law Louis Winkelmann Jr.

Surviving family includes: wife of 68 years, Barbara J. Dietzmann; sons Cary Dietzmann (Donna) and Brian Dietzmann; grandson Hunter Dietzmann; step grandson Justin Menard (Kim), step granddaughter Kayla Burke (Rev. Toby); step great granddaughters Farrah McLendon and Lydia Burke; nephews, nieces and families, Ray (Cindi) Calloway, Garland (Dawn) Calloway; Ann (Ronnie) Schroeder and Diane (Tom) Earle.

The family extends appreciation for the care given to Veril by Dr. Jon Bode, Dr. Gregg Workman, and the staff of the ER department and nursing staff at Baylor Scott and White Hospital, Accent Care, Brazos Valley Hospice, Holistic Care, and the EMS staff.

Serving as pallbearers will be Cary Dietzmann, Hunter Dietzmann, Ray Calloway, Garland Calloway, Bert Thornton, and David Armstrong. Honorary pallbearers will be Justin Menard, Bonnie and Roy Elroy Wellmann, John Armstrong, Ann Schroeder, Diane Earle, Brian Dietzmann, Kayla Burke and Joe Cesmirosky.

Memorials may be made to Salem Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund or Youth Fund.

Visitation will be held Monday, February 2, 2026 from 4:30- 6:30 PM at Brenham Memorial Chapel.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 10:00 am at Salem Lutheran Church of Brenham.

Services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer St., Brenham, 77833.
979-836-3611 Condolences may be shared at www.brenhammemorialchapel.com