EVERTZ, Dieter Evertz

It is with great love and immense sadness that we announce the passing of Dieter on Thursday, December 25, 2025 in his 90th year. Beloved husband of Rose (neé Webster) for over 66 years, dear father of Deborah (Karl Kustor) and Monica Evertz, and Phillip Evertz. Devoted Opa of Tyler (Courtney), Angela, Corey (Tonya), Delaney, Becky (Tim Scott) and Kayla, and adored Opa of his great-grandchildren Lucas, Axton, and Rosie. He is predeceased by his parents Heinz and Carla Evertz. Also a son Phillip that lived for a short 4 months.

This is my dads story.

A Life Remembered

The young man had already seen more of life than most before he ever left home. Born on July 3, 1936, Dieter he grew up in the shadow of war. World War II shaped his earliest years, teaching him resilience, awareness, and the value of peace long before he could name those lessons. His family was his world a devoted mother, three sisters, and a father who had just returned home from the war, carrying both pride and the weight of what he had seen.
From early on, he carried a deep wanderlust. With a bicycle beneath him and curiosity ahead of him, he rode across Europe, learning the world mile by mile. His life seemed carefully laid out: a secure future, a respected job waiting for him on the railroad as an engineer, and the comfort of familiarity. Everything made sense-until it didn’t. One day, he spotted a sign: a ship was leaving for Canada. Something stirred. With nothing more than a rucksack and twenty dollars, he made a decision that would change not only his life, but generations to come. He boarded that ship, not knowing exactly what awaited him-only knowing that he had to go.

He landed in a small town called Hamilton. It was unfamiliar and daunting, but full of possibility. He found work, opened his first bank account, learned a new language, and slowly built a life from the ground up.
Along the way, he made friends and found his footing in a country that would become his home. It was there that he met a young woman named Rose. She worked at the bank. From the very first day he saw her, he knew-she would be his Fräulein. He tried for many days to convince her to go out with him, persistent, hopeful, and certain. In time, she said yes, and as they say, the rest is history. Together, they built a beautiful life. They had two daughters and one son, who lived only a short time but was deeply loved. Hand in hand, they created a very successful business, proving that partnership, trust, and shared determination could build something lasting. They traveled the world together, always curious, always moving forward.

The sea became one of their great loves. They sailed together, and they passed that love on-teaching their children and grandchildren not just how to sail, but how to be confident, capable, and free. Their life was
long, happy, and healthy-rich in experiences and deeply rooted in love. In the end, his heart simply grew tired. The number of heartbeats left was few. With his Fräulein by his side, holding his hand, his heart took its final beat. He took one last breath and was gone. His daughter and his grandchildren quickly ran to his side, surrounding him with love.

He passed away on Christmas Day, 2025-a day forever marked by both sorrow and gratitude. He lives on now through them. Each of them carries a special part of him inside-a trait, a lesson, a memory, a love of adventure. It was a long life, lived fully and bravely. My father was my world. You are free now-to fly as a silver seagull over the oceans for eternity. A legacy not measured in years alone, but in courage, love, and the generations forever changed by one young man who chose to get on a ship.

These are his words to live by
Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and dedication alone are omnipotent Calvin Coolidge