Heinrich Balduin Dickhut 75, of Charleston, TN, passed away Monday, February 18, 2013 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
He was born April 12, 1937 in Breslau, Germany. He immigrated to the United States in 1957 with $50 and a dream of owning his own business. His training in the tool and die making trade was interrupted by a stint in the United States Army from 1961 to 1963. He went on to start several businesses including Cullom Machine Tool & Die, Inc. and Cleveland Tubing, Inc. He was a member of St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church. He, his family and the family business moved from Illinois to Cleveland, TN in 1983. He received the M.C. Headrick Award for Free Enterprise in 1998.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Karen Jo Berns Dickhut of Charleston; five children, Melanie Ann and husband, Daryl Miller of Columbus, GA, Catherine D. and husband, Michael Boettner of Charleston, TN, Christopher Heinrich and wife, Jennifer Dickhut of Cleveland, TN, William Joseph and wife, Katrin Dickhut of Verl, Germany, and Johanna Evelyn and husband Adam Preble of Austin, TX; 15 grandchildren, William, Katherine, Henry, Peter, Thomas, Josefa, and Jude Miller of Columbus, GA, Christopher and Jackson Boettner both of Charleston, TN, Audra, David, Zeta, and Mikayla Dickhut all of Cleveland and Amy and Samuel Dickhut of Verl, Germany; four sisters, Theresa, Regina, Elfriede all of Germany and Josefa of Wisconsin; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, February 22, at St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church with Father William Dickson Oruko, A.J. presiding with Father Albert Sescon assisting in the Mass.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, February 21, 2013 at Ralph Buckner Funeral Home concluding with a Rosary Service at 7 p.m.
Donations may be made to the Parkinson Disease Foundation or the St Mary’s Building Fund in honor of Mr. Dickhut.
Ralph Buckner Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements.