Martin Vierling Diedrich, 74, of 328 Genesee Street, Marquette, entered eternal life Thursday evening, April 21, 2005, at Marquette General Hospital, where he had been a patient one week. 

Born February 13, 1931 in Marquette, a son of John Edward and Mildred (Vierling) Diedrich, Martin was a graduate of the Graveraet High School, and was a lifelong Marquette resident.  On April 11, 1952 he married Rosemary LaRue, in St. Peter Cathedral, and the couple set about establishing their home and raising a family; which would eventually include seven children.  Martin worked a lifetime as a contractor and was in partnership with Mercure & Diedrich General Contractors, retiring from Electricians Local 1070.  He was very family oriented and especially enjoyed the time spent with his beloved wife, Rosemary, children, and grandchildren.  Martin also enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, woodworking, and watching his grandkids play hockey and figure skate.  He was a member of St. Peter Cathedral and Electricians Local 1070. 

A loving and devoted husband, dad, proud grandfather, and brother, he is survived by his wife of 52 years, Rosemary; his children, Susan (Michael) Contois, Linda (Randy) Paavola, Stephen (Karen) Diedrich, Randy Diedrich (Fiancee, Michelle Morcom), Penny (Michael) Parsons, and Todd (Paula) Diedrich all of Marquette; his grandchildren, Stacey (Brad) Andresen, Kelly (Mark) Byczek, Chad Paavola (Fiancee, Stacy Urban), Kim Contois (Fiancee, Matt Matulewicz), Jeffrey Diedrich, Nick Diedrich, Adam Diedrich, Kyle Parsons, Jenna Parsons, Shelby Diedrich, Amy Diedrich, and Ali Diedrich; great-granddaughter, Anna Byczek; his sister, Mary (William) Cleary of Marquette; a sister-in-law, Louise Diedrich of Escanaba; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.  In addition to his parents, Martin was preceded in death by a son, Martin “Punza” Diedrich Jr in 1965; by sisters, Marlene Bourgeois, Gertrude Hoffenbecker, Helen Powers, Louise Richards, and Dorothy Repine; and brothers, Louis, Charles, Joseph, Jack, and an infant brother, Louis Diedrich.

Friends may call at the Fassbender Funeral Home on Sunday from 4:00 to 8:00 pm, where a parish prayer service will be held at 7:30 pm Sunday evening.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am Monday morning, April 25, in St. Peter Cathedral with Rev. Allan Mott, as celebrant, assisted by Deacon Scott Jamieson.  A reception for family and friends will follow in Cathedral Hall.  Burial will be made in the Holy Cross Cemetery.