James R. Diehl

Jim Diehl, beloved Husband, Father and Papa, died August 23, 2019 at 72 years old. Jim was born in Colorado Springs on June 17, 1947 to Fred and Lorene Diehl and was the oldest of three children. In 1954 his family moved to Buena Park and then Anaheim shortly after. Jim was in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and his father served as the Cub Leader and Pack Leader. Jim was also tapped into the Order of the Arrow, a special division of the Boy Scouts. Jim graduated from Loara High School in 1967. The Beach Boys song "Surfin U.S.A" rang true for Jim's adolescence. You'd find him at Bolsa Chica beach surfing the waves with his buddies most days. He also developed a love for owning and restoring his own hot rods. In 1968 Jim was drafted to the Army. Due to a back injury he wasn't able to continue service. Being the music lover that he was, it was a natural transition for him to start working at Fender Musical Instruments in the warehouse, where he became a Union Steward and then Production Foreman. This is where he met the love of his life, Marie Maeseele, aka Bearzo. In 1976 these two hippies got hitched in Vegas and bought a home together in Corona where they resided in the same home for 43 years. They raised four beautiful children together - Eric, from Jim's first marriage, Andy, Nicole and Heidi. They have seven grandchildren - Dylan, Blake, Johnny, Rosemary, Melody, Adeline and Holly. All whom Jim loved and adored. Jim was a jokester and will be remembered for his warm smile, baby blue eyes, free spirit, love for his family and for his tendency to give the ones he loved their own special nicknames. Service St. John Episcopal Church 951-737-1363 | Saturday 9/7, 1:00 pm