William Dierking, Jr.

William Dierking, Jr., 88, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 23, 2020.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Thursday, February 27 in Brenham Memorial Chapel.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Friday, February 28 in St. James Lutheran Church of New Wehdem with Pastor Evan Cameron officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

William Dierking, Jr. “Junior” was born in Mill Creek Switch February 24, 1931 to William and Selma Mueller Dierking. He was baptized in Berlin. He moved to New Wehdem around the age of 5. He was educated at the New Wehdem School. He was confirmed at St. James Lutheran Church. It was in St. James where he would also marry Ms. Pearlie Mae Henske on February 24, 1952. Junior was a life-long member of St. James where he also played volleyball and served as Sunday School Superintendent. Pearlie preceded him in death on December 15, 2011.

During his years in New Wehdem, he helped his parents in their New Wehdem store by candling eggs, moving Dittlinger feed, making deliveries and whatever job was needed to be done. He helped in the corn and cotton fields as well. At the age of 17, he was offered a job with Brenham Wholesale Grocery Company. He began unloading produce from train cars, then he drove a delivery truck. Eventually he became the top salesman in the company, an accomplishment he held for many years. Junior loved his work, especially in sales as he enjoyed doing business with people. During those years, he also joined the National Guard where he was highly regarded as a sharpshooter and became a Corporal before being honorably discharged.

Junior retired after a 35-year career at Brenham Wholesale and became a full-time rancher of Brangus Cattle alongside his loving, devoted wife, Pearlie. Together they worked their D-Bar Ranch where they also raised several other animals through the years including buffalo, llamas, guineas, sheep, geese, chickens, whitetails, pigs, turkeys, miniature horses and even a potbelly pig.

The D-Bar Ranch became a gathering place for barbecues, stews, and many a fish fry at the “Little Shamrock” and later at the family camp house by the fishing ponds. Junior and Pearlie hosted several bands from Germany during the annual Maifest celebrations and parades and were active members of the Wie Gehts Club. He loved to pull floats in the parade behind his blue Ford Model A car, which he did for many years. Junior and Pearlie also loved to help people as they could. He was also an active member of the Austin County Historical Commission for many years. Junior helped organize the Austin County Cemetery Book and the dedication markers for various historical sites.

Another endeavor Junior enjoyed was hauling cattle for people to the Columbus and Giddings livestock auction sales for several years. He also spent many an hour shredding pastures, working cattle, hunting for historical antique items, and dancing with his beloved Pearlie to polka and waltz tunes. They were terrific dancers! They absolutely loved to play dominoes with friends, family, and grandkids out on the porch at their home. Junior and Pearlie also took a few special trips together over to Germany and up north to Alaska. He truly loved to stay busy and taught us all the virtues of hard work and love of family.

He is survived by his loving children, Larry Dierking and his wife Sally, Cheryl and her husband Bruce Buenger, Donna and her husband Glenn Huebner; as well as grandchildren, Marc (Brooke) Dierking, Jess (Amanda) Buenger, Justin Buenger, Laurel (fiancé Marcus) Dierking, Garrett (Paige) Huebner and Gene Huebner; by his great-grandchildren Paisley, Palmer, Harper, Addison, Ariella, Hudson and Hollis. Junior is also survived by his brother Clarence, sister-in-law Ellen Henske, as well as many loving nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Pearlie; his infant brother; his parents; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Charlie and Almeta Ueckert Henske; brothers-in-law Lee Henske and Lonnie Dannhaus; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Dannhaus and Betty Dierking.

Junior’s family would also like to express our sincerest thanks and appreciation to Brenham Nursing and Rehabilitation and all the nurses and staff as well as to Dr. Leal, Dr. Aubrey Eickenhorst and Dr. Don Bosse for their many years of care. We greatly appreciate and thank Hospice Brazos Valley for their wonderful care and support.

The family especially thanks the loving caregivers of Junior’s whom he trusted and loved dearly—he had many better days and years because of them and he was truly blessed by them. Thank you to Pastor Cameron and the people of St. James who brightened his days with visits and cards.

Memorials may be given in Junior’s memory to St. James Lutheran Church or Hospice Brazos Valley.

Pallbearers will be Marc Dierking, Jess Buenger, Justin Buenger, Laurel Dierking, Garrett Huebner, Gene Huebner, Shane Dierking, Darcy Dierking and Nathan Winkelmann.

Services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer Street, Brenham. 979.836.3611 Tributes may be shared at www.BrenhamMemorialChapel.com