Arthur "Art" Amos Dieleman

Information courtesy of the Wyoming Newspaper Project. The following was published in the Manville News.

Arthur A. Dieleman was born at Prairie View, Kansas, August 16, 1886, and died at Manville, Wyoming, October 22, 1920, at the age of 34 years, 2 months and 6 days.

On August 18, 1909 he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Eglehoff, of Osceola, Nebraska, to which union was born five children, one of which died at a very early age.

The happy couple settled in Manville, where they have resided until this time.

He is survived by a father, J. C. Dieleman; mother, Mary J. Dieleman, wife Nancy Dieleman, and four children; two brothers, Henry and William; three sisters, Mrs. Kate Laughlin, Mrs. Laura Welch and Mrs. Nellie Nevis.

As a husband and father, Arthur Dieleman was of the most kind, loving and affectionate nature.

As a business man, he was honest, conservative and frank. He had been with The Bank of Manville for thirteen years.

As a citizen he always held out a warm hand of good fellowship to those who desired his friendship and he stood for all that was good in home, town and community life.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon in the Methodist Church in Manville, the masons having charge of the services at the cemetery.

The magnificent mountain of flowers following the remains to the cemetery was a symbol of the place he occupied in the hearts of his fellow men.

Interment was made in the Manville cemetery in the family plot.

A. A. DIELEMAN KILLED IN AUTO ACCIDENT FRIDAY

Community Turns Out Enmasse to Pay Last Tribute of Respect to Its Most Beloved Citizen

A. A. Dieleman, cashier of the Bank of Manville, sustained injuries resulting in his almost immediate death, last Friday evening, when an automobile he was driving colided with a team on the road just West of Manville.

Mr. Dieleman, accompanied by F. L. Kokrda and Hobart Ward, also of the Bank of Manville, had been hunting, and had spent until dark in a successful effort to kill a coyote.

It was difficult to view an approaching team, owing to the darkness and the slow falling snow and sleet, and the fact that only one of the lights on the car was in order.

Employing the only possible means of avoiding a square collision with the team, Mr. Dieleman swung the car to one side, in a futile effort to escape, but the team was too close and the front wheel of the car ran between the front legs of one of the horses almost completely severing the leg from the animal's body. From the appearance of the car, it is quite evident that it had been thus swung into the tongue of the wagon, mashing the whole side of the car in on Mr. Dieleman, breaking several ribs and mercilessly bruising his side. The car turned over three diferent times as was judged by its location and the appearance of its tracks, during which performance the passengers were thrown to the ground. Mr. Dieleman also suffered dislocation of the jaws, and internal injuries of the lungs, and a fracture at the base of the skull, which evidently was the cause of is death.

Mr. Kokrda sustained bruises on the chest and a serious cut on the upper lip. Mr. Ward escaped with no injuries except minor bruises on the back.

A stranger happened along, alone in a car and brought the injured men to town. Mr. Dieleman lived less than an hour after he reached home, and gained a semi-consciousness only in so far as to recognize a few of his friends who were there.

The parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Dieleman were notified immediately and arrived here that the funeral may be had on the following Monday.

The entire community turned out enmasse to pay their tribute to the most liked man of the entire community. A number of people from numerous points over the State attended, also.

The local Rossevelt Lodge of A. F. and A. M. had charge of the remains and headed the procession to the church where services were conducted by Rev. E. L. Butler. The remains were then taken to the Manville cemetery for interment, where the masons held their regular funeral services. There were about 70 Masons present, including many of the Lusk and Douglas Lodges. The funeral procession made up of automobiles running in as close proximity as possible to insure safety, reaching far more than a half-mile distance on the road.

The Mariposa Chapter of Eastern Star attended in a body at the funeral services at the church.

Our business and social life has suffered its most sorrowful shock in the loss of this citizen. The hundred and more places that he filled in the activities will yawn vacantly for one as capable to fill them.

The automobile in the accident was indeed a most complete wreck. Its condition looked almost impossible to have occured in an accident.

The survivors remember little of the accident, it having come so suddenly.

A Tribute To A Man
When in the irrisistible course of nature comes the solemn duty of mankind to speak the last farewell to a fellow-man, there comes that sorrowful realization of a great loss - that serious retrospection of the traits of that fellow man which, in their significance to individuals, prompts that realization.

The physical existence of Arthur Dieleman has been snatched away, and his face is no longer among us.

The community of Manville has been brought face to face with the realization of a mournful loss. That sad retrospection, Calling to memory, the many characteristics of "Art" Dieleman, that endeared him to a community of individuals, is upon us, and the community grieves.

God's will be done. It is not on earth that mankind is to dwell together in eternal peace. That is not the great Plan. But He has gone to prepare a place for us. There, only, shall we see each other face to face throughout the ages of eternity.

Each and every life is given for a purpose. The community of Manville knows that the life of "Art" Dieleman was not lived in vain.

Foremost, it seems, the life of "Art" Dieleman taught us that no matter how small our lot in life may seem, there is much good we can do among our fellowmen.

The characteristics of the greatest men in our history were apparent in the career of Arthur Dieleman, and the only class distinction he made was the Honest and the Dishonest. As a business man, he filled a place in this community which will never again be equally filled. He came to the Bank of Manville some thirteen years ago, and during that time has been an untiring worker and booster for this community. We doubt if there is a man in this community today, who has not, at some time, received a favor at the hands of Arthur Dieleman. And there are numerous families who would not be in our community today enjoying wealth and happpiness, had it not have been for the assistance they received at the hands of Art, and the fatherly and brotherly advice which he gave them in times of trouble and discouragement. He seemed to understand, as no one else understands, his fellowmen and he would spare no physical effort on his part in toiling for his friends, rich and poor alike.

Man to man he was a cheerful and happy sort of fellow, who never was seen in despair, but who always had a smile, a kind word, or some nature of trait to pass on to all, showing that unquestionable delight in seeing his fellowman happy and contented.

In the community life it seems that the whole burden rested upon Art. Every issue was taken to him for his approval or disapproval, and his judgement never proved to be wrong. He was the backbone of the community activities, and it seemed that all the big tasks must have his assistance. And he gave it - and was always giving, willing to accept his remuneration in witnessing the progress of our community.

His family and relatives are not alone in the vacantness of the days which are to follow. The voice of the community rings out from the very souls of individuals, proclaiming its true appreciation of and thankfulness for the life of Arthur Dieleman. While in this hour the Creator saw fit to take him from among us, yet his life will live on and on through the generations that come and go after us, in this community. His deeds are moulded indellibly upon the hearts of our people and tangible evidence of his greatness as a citizen will be evident in this community throughout all the ages. Step by step he climbed the ladder of success, and the great community pride is aroused to the uttermost by the fact that in looking back over his career we find a career irreprochable; a career without a stain; a career for which no hatred will ever be disclosed.

He leaves behind his passing a shining path; an example of true greatness among men; an example of what all men should strive to obtain in this life; an example of how earthly happiness may be obtained thru, "doing unto others as you would have others do unto you."

Clothed as he was, it seems, in the robe of all that goes to make a great man, he has taken his chamber in the silent hall of death and is laid down to peaceful rest. But the voice of the community cries out, thru the anguish of it all: "Oh, God, We thank thee for the life of Arthur Dieleman, and for his great example of true manliness."

The Lusk Herald
October 29, 1920
Manville Citizen Loses Life in Auto Accident

The County in General and Manville in Particular Suffers Loss of a Most Estimable Citizen

Arthur A. Dieleman, cashier of the Bank of Manville, met death at about 6 o'clock last Friday evening as result of an automobile accident. Mr. Dieleman, together with Fred Kokrada and H. E. Ward, both employees of the bank, were returning to town from hunting in a Dodge roadster. Only one light was lit. At the Burkett crossing a mile or so west of town, and at a time when the squall of snow obscured view except for a short distance, there was met a team of horses and a farm wagon driven by Wm. Wheelen, whose place is south of Keeline.

Mr. Dieleman, who was driving, and at a speed of about 35 miles did not see the team until right upon it. He made an attempt to shift to the right side of the road and in all liklihood would have been enabled to do so had not one of the horses taken fright and reared and plunged backward, causing (the) other horse to swerve so far to one side and toward the car, that the front wheel caught its foreleg and the wagon tongue, or neck-yoke, struck the car with such force as to bend the part of the body forming the end of the seat inward to against the back cushion. Instantly the car was overturned four times and was completely wrecked. Mr. Dieleman was (??) in the middle of the road and his two companions were left farther distant and one upon each side, but both, though bruised, were able to get up and move about. Within a moment or two a man driving a touring car, and on route to Mule Creek, came upon the scene and carried the injured ones to town. The leg of the horse remained attached by only a fragment of skin.

Examination revealed that Mr. Dieleman was hurt beyond possibiity of recovery. It was discovered that the ribs of the left side had been crushed and the skull fractured. He lived for half an hour after being placed in his home, and desptite the awful injuries he was withstanding, had recognition of and speech with those about him.

The funeral, conducted by the Masonic order, was held on Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock and burial in the Manville cemetery followed. The funeral discourse was delivered by Rev. Butler, and in the cause of which he paid deserved tribute to the character and worthiness of the spirit so lately abiding in and animating the form embraced in death.

Arthur Amos Dieleman was born in Praire View, Kansas, on August 16, 1886, and was aged 34 years, two months and six days. He leaves, besides his parents and several brothers and sisters, a wife and four children, equally divided as the sex, and the youngest, a boy, but six weeks old.

Some 14 years ago, and just after graduating from the Grand Island, (Neb.) Business College, Mr. Dieleman came to Manville and accepted a clerkship in the bank. By industry and frugality, he eventually aacquired a third interest in the business of the bank, and in satisfaction of a desire to extend his influence he acquired a half interest with Carl Baughn in a bunch of 300 or more cattle. He had a ranch of several hundred acres near Manville and no later than a few weeks ago had purchased another ranch near Glendo. It was his intention, on account of failing health, to retire from the bank on the first of next year and thenceforth devote his energy to the ranching and livestock industries.

The death of Mr. Dieleman caused intense grief to those to whom he was endeared by ties of kindred, and sincere regret to those with whom he was associated in carrying forward business undertakings. In brief, his passing is greatly regretted by all who knew him, for he was one of active, enterprising spirit and straight-forward in all his dealings. In the calling hence of Mr. Dieleman the county has lost a highly useful and creditable citizen, and one who from a most ordinary outstarting had by loyalty of service and exercise of good judgement won for himself a fair competency of wealth, and in addition had gained the respect, confidence and goodwill of his fellowkind.

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