Harold “H.D.” Dieter

Harold “H.D.” Dieter

October 15, 1931 – July 20, 2023

Harold “H.D.” Dieter, age 91, was a lifelong educator who taught math at South High School and Indian Hill prior to teaching in Denver, Colorado. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Laura Dieter. He is survived by daughters, Lisa Hunter and Gina Pearson; sister, Lorraine Wells; and four grandchildren.

VISITATION: Wednesday, July 26^th from 5pm to 7pm at the West Center Chapel, followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm.  MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Thursday, July 27^th at 10:30am at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 11802 Pacific.  Interment, Resurrection Cemetery with Military Honors.  Memorials are suggested to St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church.

To view live broadcasts of the Vigil Service and Mass, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “View Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.

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H.D. (Harold) Dieter was born on October 15, 1931, to Leo and Ella Dieter in Madison, Nebraska.   

H.D. grew up in Norfolk, Nebraska.  He graduated from Norfolk High School in 1950 and attended Norfolk Junior College where he earned a degree in Business Administration in 1952.  He then enlisted in the Army and served during the Korean War.  H.D. returned to college at Omaha University and University of Nebraska and obtained his Bachelor’s Degree.  After graduating, H.D. taught math at South High School and Indian Hill in Omaha.  It was at Indian Hill where he first met Laura Villarreal, his future wife and the love of his life.  They married and both accepted teaching positions in Denver, Colorado.  He and Laura left Denver and went to Redlands, California, where he developed a math program which he taught at a local school.  They then returned to Denver where he became head of the math department at Campus Middle Unit junior high.  He continued to teach in the Cherry Creek school system in Denver until he retired in 1989.  He and Laura then returned to Omaha in 2003. 

H.D. was an idea man and an action man.  He loved being busy.  Throughout his life he had many diverse jobs.  He was also an entrepreneur.  In addition to his teaching career, he owned and operated the Aurora Fun Center, which included a Putt-Putt miniature golf course, a bumper car and an arcade.  He also created other businesses including developing math teaching aids which he sold to schools and educators and building a portable miniature golf course which he rented out for events.  He was also incredibly resourceful.  He could build anything and built additions to their homes.  He wrote a proposal and was accepted for a year-long paid sabbatical to research educational practices across the country.  He then purchased a camper and traveled with the family all over the United States.  He and Laura also started a business to take teachers to Hawaii to obtain their teaching recertification credits through the University of Hawaii.  Additionally, they led numerous educational tours to Europe for teachers and students. 

H.D. and Laura were very happily married for 61 years and had two daughters, Lisa and Gina.  H.D. was a kind, generous and loving man who was a friend to everyone he met.  H.D. and Laura were a fantastic couple who had an incredibly special marriage.  They were constant companions and partners in life.  H.D. loved Christmas, decorated extensively, and set up a Christmas village which family and friends came to see every year.  He also loved breakfast, wildlife, the Rocky Mountains and traveling.  He and Laura traveled around the world and especially loved Hawaii.  Most of all, he loved his wife and family.  His passing is an irreplaceable loss to all who knew him.  

H.D. was preceded in death by his wife Laura; parents, Leo and Ella Dieter; brother, Donald Dieter.  He is survived by his daughters, Lisa (Ron) Hunter and Gina (Roger) Pearson; sister, Lorraine Wells; nieces and nephews; grandchildren: Maria, Luke and Scotty Pearson and Nicholas Hunter.