Ferd Deiters, 85, of Breese, died Sunday, March 30, 2008 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Belleville. He was born January 21, 1923 in Breese, son of Bernard "Ben" and Anna E. (Hilmes) Deiters. He married Rita Rakers on November 20, 1946 in Breese and she survives.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by five children, Judy Kraus and husband Gordon of Reno, NV, Jim Deiters of St. Petersburg, FL, Dale Deiters and wife Jan of Breese, Dan Deiters and wife Joyce of Carlyle, and Wayne Deiters and wife Ginny of Breese; a former daughter-in-law, Betty Deiters of Trenton; 15 grandchildren, Karen Kraus, Rick Kraus, Chad Deiters and wife Kelly, Jamie Deiters and wife Nancy, Brandon Deiters, D.J. Deiters, Libby Deiters, Joey Deiters, Julie Deiters, Stacie Deiters, Lisa Deiters, Craig Deiters, Kevin Deiters, Courtney Deiters and Chelsey Deiters; two great-grandchildren, Brady Deiters and Jordan Deiters; a step great-granddaughter, Jamie Renspurger; three brothers, Alvin Deiters and wife Norma of Trenton, Robert Deiters, and Ralph Deiters and wife Kathy, all of Breese; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Jerome and Mildred Rakers of Carlyle, Johanna Rakers, Marie Grapperhaus, and Alvera Mannhard, all of Trenton, Andy and Mary Ann Rakers of Beckemeyer, Cecilia Markus of Aviston, and Joyce and Leonard Steinmann of St. Rose.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Leona Haar; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Joe Haar, Anna M. Deiters, Paul Rakers, Alvin Grapperhaus, Maurice Mannhard, Benedict Markus, Edmund Rakers, Marcella Seifert and Irene Rakers, & his father-in-law & mother-in-law, Herman & Mary Rakers.

Mr. Deiters was a farmer. He was a veteran of the United States Army and served during WWII. He was a member of St. Augustine Parish and Holy Name Society in Breese, the Breese American Legion Post 252, Breese Knights of Columbus Council #2869, Clinton County Farm Bureau and a former member of the Mid-American Dairymen.

A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Breese with the Rev. Chuck Tuttle and Deacon Bob Lippert officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Dominic/St. Augustine Cemetery in Breese.

Friends may call from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 and from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at Hempen Funeral Home in Breese. The Knights of Columbus will visit the funeral home at 7 p.m. followed by the American Legion at 7:30, all Tuesday evening at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to All Saints Academy or Mater Dei High School and will be received at the funeral home.