Obituary provided by Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home

Wayne Edward “Hambone” Diediker, age 91 of Osawatomie, Kansas, died May 31, 2011 at the Olathe Medical Center in Olathe, Kansas.

Wayne was born August 10, 1919 in rural Osawatomie. He was the second of three children born to Willis Elijah and Nellie Edith (Hays) Diediker. He attended the Osawatomie schools and graduated in the class of 1937.

He was married at the Presbyterian Church parsonage on June 28, 1941 to Trissie Melvina Whitney. They made their home in Osawatomie and became the parents of four children. Mrs. Diediker died February 25, 1999.

Wayne or “Hambone” as many called him started to work for the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1941 and retired as a freight train conductor after 38 years of service in 1979. He was member of the United Transportation Union and the National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees.

Wayne’s hobbies included hunting, fishing, pool, shade tree mechanic, dancing at the Playmart and skeet shooting. He once was in a turkey shoot against the National Skeet Shooting Champion and Wayne won.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, two brothers; Merle and LaVerne Diediker.

Survived by four sons; Wayne Everett and Nina Diediker of Fontana, John L. and Lynda Diediker of Osawatomie, Dean and Mindie Diediker of Berryton, Lyle and Diana Diediker of Osawatomie, Kansas. Ten Grandchildren; Seventeen Great Grandchildren plus one on the way; two Great Great grand children; other relatives and friends.

Funeral will be at 10:30 am, Friday, June 3 at Graveside, Osawatomie Cemetery, Osawatomie, Kansas. Instate after 1 pm Thursday with visitation 5-8 pm, Thursday evening at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie.

Memorial to the Masonic Lodge.