Hans Dieter Ochs
  • Born on: May 27, 1937
  • Departed on: September 24, 2018
  • Resided in: Cedar Rapids, IA

Hans Dieter Ochs

Hans Dieter Ochs died September 24, 2018, with his family gathered around him at Mercy Medical Center.  In keeping with Dieter’s “I’d rather be seen than viewed” philosophy, the family has chosen private inurnment.  There will be no immediate services.

Dieter was born in Frankfurt, Germany on May 27, 1937, the second child of Ernst Johann and Friedericke Katharina Ochs.  His father, who was a merchant by trade, died when Dieter was only seven, meaning he and his siblings were raised by a single mother and her extended family.  He had many stories describing childhood memories of enduring the deprivations brought about by the surrounding war and its aftermath, but he usually described them wistfully:  American soldiers bringing the family food scraps to make a pot of soup, or tasting a spoonful of butter for the first time (as though it were ice cream) were experiences related with nostalgia, not bitterness. 

After completing his high school education and some trade school courses, Dieter found work with a local retailer to support himself.  He and his group of close friends spent their recreational hours toying with their cars and motorcycles, bandying about Europe, and relishing American music.  At the age of 21, Dieter decided to follow his older brother to the U.S.  Not long thereafter, he received a draft notice from the U.S. Army.  In those days, as the holder of a green card, receipt of a draft notice meant one could choose to honor the notice or to go home.  Dieter chose to go to the Army because his goal was to become a U.S. citizen.  The Army welcomed him and, in its infinite wisdom, posted him in Germany.  He was assigned to drive tanks at first, but it became apparent he was too tall to scrunch inside them, so he wound up as a driver, mostly for the brass.  Dieter attained the rank of Specialist, 4th Class, and received an honorable discharge after two years of service.  In Dieter’s telling, Army life was another subject he recalled most frequently with a smile.  The friendships he fashioned with some fellow GI’s lasted for decades.

Being posted in Germany, of course, allowed Dieter to rekindle contacts with his old gang. To his good fortune, on July 7, 1962, he succeeded in securing the hand of Baerbel (Barbara) Klose in marriage.  She became, and remains, the only person Dieter allowed himself to depend upon.  Dieter was working at the World Trade Center in Frankfurt, and they welcomed their first son into the world the same year.   In 1964, he and “Babs,” with toddler in tow, embarked permanently for the states, settling first in Ravenna, Ohio, nearby Dieter’s brother.  In 1966, he followed up on a job offer from Tom Parks (a contact from his days at the World Trade Center) to work as a salesman for a company then known as Cedar Rapids Engineering Co., which built machines branded “Kwik-Way” that were used to repair the inner workings of combustion engines.  Dieter and Babs packed up again, this time settling in Cedar Rapids.  It turned out to be a natural fit, as Dieter’s love of cars meshed easily with the job of promoting engine reconditioning equipment. He advanced through various positions with the company over the next 40 years, even serving as President, but he always regarded his role cultivating relationships as a salesman to be his most essential work.

Dieter’s work for Kwik-Way afforded him many opportunities to travel, and over time he circled the globe – twice. A second son arrived in 1968, earning the family’s first American passport.  The business relationships Dieter created led to life-long friendships with people across the country and all over the world.  It was relatively common place for him to host international visitors from France, England, Turkey, Venezuela, Denmark, Mexico, or Canada and elsewhere, all of whom were welcomed as family, and reciprocated the hospitality when given the chance, even after Dieter’s retirement in 2006.

Dieter and Barbara participated in their community and proudly attained American citizenship in 1976.  They supported and encouraged their sons in all of their endeavors, athletic and academic, and also nurtured in them a love for travel and respect for foreign cultures.  Although they coveted their history, and visited family and friends in Europe yearly, Cedar Rapids has been their home.

Dieter had charisma, a presence that attracted affection without his seeking it.  He taught his children the value of honesty, hard work, and good humor toward our fellow travelers.  His love for his family was enduring, especially for his grandchildren, who treasured their “Opa” in return.  Dieter always made time for a shared meal with family or friends, best enjoyed after a proper glass of whisky and then accompanied by a decent wine, especially but not necessarily, at dinner time.  He was a talented sketch artist and drew the first designs for the home he and Barbara have shared for the last 24 years.  He particularly loved visiting Scottland and marked several birthdays with trips to pay homage to the local artisans and innkeepers.  Dieter’s life-long passion was music, particularly Dixieland-era jazz.  He was downright dismissive of those who dared to declare that a washboard, which he played with accomplishment, is not really an instrument.  His love for sports cars culminated with his devotion to his 1964 Morgan roadster and his Porsche.  Most recently, Dieter looked forward to his weekly lunch time get-togethers with two groups of well-seasoned companions, the Romeos and the Legends.

Left to treasure his memory are his wife of 56 years, Barbara;  his son, Thomas, and daughter-in-law, Bethann Kohl, and his son, Robin; his grandchildren, Jackson, Sophia, Walker and Kellen Ochs; his brother-in-law, Gerhard Fuhry, of Augsburg, Germany; his sister-in-law, Joan Ochs of San Diego; and nephews and nieces in California, Texas, and France. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Karl Heinz Ochs and Lieselotte Fuhry.

Dieter lived life well. The family will announce a date later this fall for a public gathering to share memories and celebrate.  In keeping with Dieter’s reverence for observing etiquette, Scotch whisky will be featured. The family would like to thank EMS responders from Marion and Bertram and the physicians and staff at Mercy for their professionalism and compassion.  Those wishing to make a memorial donation in Dieter’s memory are requested to direct their gifts to either KCCK or KUNI public radio stations or the Brucemore Historic site. 
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