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Paul Mark Diemert was born in Buffalo ND on October 22, 1933 and died at 6:40 am in Albany, OR on July 26, 2025. He left a legacy and example of faith, service, and community involvement, and will be missed by a large family including children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. 

Paul was the youngest of four children born to Matthias Diemert and Elise (Anderson) Diemert. He is preceded in death by his older siblings, Helen Diemert, Raymond Diemert, and Lila (Diemert) McDermott. 

Paul was married for 61 years to Joyce (Aune) Diemert, until the time of her death on January 8, 2018. Paul and Joyce had five children: Kathleen Diemert Bowers (born 1957), Mark Diemert (born 1958), Mary Diemert Tarpley (born 1962, married to Jeff Tarpley), Barbara Diemert Mendoza (born 1964, married to Phill Mendoza, and died in 2023) and Angela Diemert Lehto (born 1968, previously married to Gary Lehto). Grandchildren include: Brian Joseph Bowers (1977), Michele Joyce Bowers (1979), Lisa Marie Bowers (1981), Anne Catherine Bowers (1995), Robert Morrell (1981), Tony Morrell (1983), Jeffrey Tarpley (1994), Marissa Mendoza, Josselyn Mendoza, Tiffany Natasha (Tgrudzinski) Baker (1993), Travis Jay Tgrudzinski (1994), David Paul Lehto (1997), and Dean Alan Lehto (1999). In addition, Paul had 10 nieces and nephews, many of whom have children and grandchildren of their own. 

Paul was a graduate of a Benedictine high school, St John’s Preparatory School in Collegeville, Minnesota, and a Navy veteran. He had his first job in his family business, Diemert’s Farm Implement, in Buffalo ND, where he worked alongside his father, Matthias Diemert and his brother, Raymond Diemert. In 1963, Paul moved his young family of four from North Dakota to “sunny” California to work on the tunnels and dams of California’s statewide water project. His first job in California was with the Canadian firm, McNamara Construction Company, where he served as a purchasing agent for tunnels under construction near Downieville CA, followed by purchasing work for the Oroville Dam construction project near Chico, CA. Next he moved his growing family of six to Glendora CA and then Upland CA as he worked for JF Shea Construction Company, a major builder of roads, bridges and dams. By the time he left JF Shea in 1978, Paul was serving concurrent vice presidencies in new JF Shea satellite companies he helped start, Reed Gunite and Contractors’ Warehouse, as well as playing a supporting role in the new Shea Homes, and a continuing role in parent company, JF Shea. In Upland, Paul and Joyce’s family grew to seven. Following his time with JF Shea, Paul worked for Allentown Gunite and Shotcrete Plus, which he started and ran with a group of investors. 

After Paul retired and the children were grown, Paul and Joyce lived in Clearlake Oaks, CA Keizer, OR and Mt. Angel, OR. In Clearlake Oaks, Paul and Joyce played various roles in the community to support people in need. He also visited the sick, delivering communion to those who were unable to attend Mass. Paul was a devout Catholic who loved to learn about and share his faith and had at times served as a deacon.

In his younger years, Paul’s focus was being an excellent provider for his growing family. An avid fisherman in his early retirement years, Paul loved a good fish story as much as a good joke. He was a great teller of stories.

Paul’s family members are grateful to everyone who helped care for him in his final years.