Wayne Wilson Ditmer's Obituary
Wayne Wilson Ditmer of Fort Myers, Florida passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 5, 2015 following some health challenges. He was 82 years old.Wayne was born on April 21, 1932 in Oakland, California, the son of Verna (Wilson) and Clifford E. Ditmer. He had a colorful childhood, growing up on Alcatraz where his father was a guard. Wayne claimed to be buddies with Al Capone, chatting with the notorious gangster through the prison fence near the guard’s family apartments while Capone tended to the prison gardens. Wayne spent his teenage years in Velva, North Dakota where his interest in agriculture began, joining the Future Farmers of America (FFA) in high school. Wayne graduated from North Dakota State University with a BS and MS in Agricultural Education. After college he joined the U.S. Army, spending most of his duty in Fairbanks Alaska. After the Army he married his college sweetheart, Beverly Akason, and moved to Mott, North Dakota where they both secured teaching jobs at Mott Lincoln High School. Wayne taught Vocational Agriculture in Mott for 28 years. Wayne’s involvement with the FFA continued as he shepherded hundreds of Future Farmers through the organization. In 1985 Wayne moved to Thief Rivers Falls, Minnesota where he taught post secondary and adult farm management until his retirement in 1994.Wayne contributed time to many community groups including service as treasurer of several organizations and also served on the board of Directors of the North Dakota Education Association. He was active in the Masons and Eastern Star, and also founded an irrigation cooperative which is still serving users in Mott.Wayne was a prolific traveller, visiting over 50 countries and all 50 states. He was also an avid photographer as well as accomplished gardener.He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Beverly Akason Ditmer; his 3 sons, Steven (Carol) Ditmer of Denver, CO, Michael (Lisa Proechel) Ditmer of St. Paul, MN and Gary (Etsuko) Ditmer of Sendai, Japan. He also leaves behind his sister Edith Dacks of Fargo, ND, 3 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held 3:30 – 4:30 P.M. Thursday, February 12 at the Estero Room, Cypress Cove located at: 10200 Cypress Cove Drive, Fort Myers, Florida, 33908Placement services with Military Honors will be 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the Field of Honor at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Cemetery.Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home is serving the family. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.fortmyersmemorial.comMemorial donations may be made to the North Dakota Future Farmers of America Foundation: ND FFA Foundation PO Box 6022. Bismarck, ND 58506-6022. www.ndffafoundation.comA special thank you to the staff of The Lodge at Health Park at Cypress Cove.
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