Ned Dietz

Ned Dietz went home to his Lord and Savior Jesus on March 22, 2025. He was born on December 28, 1939, in Newark, NJ and graduated from Westfield Senior High. Then he attended Bucknell University, graduating in 1962 with a BS in Electrical Engineering, a commission in the Army Artillery, and a fiancée, Jan Wall, whom he married one week after graduation. He immediately went to work for GE, and six months later the couple moved to Fort Sill, OK for his active-duty assignment. Their daughters, Debbie and Suzy, were born there in the military hospital. Two years later he rejoined GE where he rose through the ranks, holding a number of full P&L executive positions over the next 20 years. The couple relocated eight times with GE and had two more daughters, Lisa and Wendy. While in his mid-thirties, Ned was “born-again” and became a fully committed Christian for the rest of his life. After GE, Ned worked for six other companies holding various executive positions. His last full-time job was CEO of Carpenter Enterprises of Traverse City, MI, a position he held for six years until the business was sold to EaglePicher Industries in 1999. Ned was always very active physically, particularly biking, boating and golfing. In retirement, he mentored people starting up or expanding small businesses through SCORE and taught children math at Sylvan Learning Center. His last volunteer positions were President and Treasurer of his neighborhood HOA. He was fully devoted to his family and friends and faithfully sent them a daily Bible verse encouragement along with praying weekly on a national prayer chain hotline. As a result of their many moves, Ned and Jan were members of a number of Bible believing churches where he served in various capacities, including elder, treasurer, and leader in Evangelism Explosion. Ned was always ready to tell others about the free gift of eternal life. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Jan, his sister and her husband, Bev (John) Cox, and daughters and sons-in-law, Debbie (Steve) Hudson of Traverse City, MI, Suzy (Tom) Hannibal of Trumbull, CT, Lisa (Charles) Harvey of Land O Lakes, FL, Wendy Dietz of Bowling Green, KY, and “like a daughter” Tracy Jackson of Brooklyn, NY; grandchildren and their spouses, Jenny (Matt) Brown, Dan (Amy) Hannibal, Brian (Valorie) Hudson, Stephanie (John) Lauria, Alex (Ashley) Harvey, Nathan (Casey) Harvey, Josh Hannibal, Katie (Maddi) Harvey Caldwell; and great-grandchildren, Makayla, Kylie and Caleb Brown, Everlie Hudson, Rory Hannibal, Chloe Lauria, Declan Harvey, and Jameson Harvey. He will be greatly missed by countless members of his family and friends who will never forget him and a lifetime of memories that will be cherished forever. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift can be made to Freedom Builders of America, a non-profit, volunteer faith-based organization that is dedicated to housing assistance in the local community. P.O. Box 309, Traverse City, MI 49685.

Ned Dietz

December 28, 1939 - March 22, 2025