Bill Dietzel was a fighter through and through...
He continued his fight for war veterans, even as he fought a deadly disease.
Everything about Bill Dietzel was unique...
His thunderous voice...
His friendship...
His high energy...
Charlie Waters, Longtime Friend: "he'd been active the whole time i've known him. he hadn't slowed down. It's like someone gave him a shot in the morning..."
He was born in February of 1934...
He began his military career in 1952 and worked his way up the Air Force ranks to Senior Master Sergeant.
He was an engineer, and he even flew during the Vietnam War.
He retired in 1972.
But that high energy just kept him going.
In 2000 he stepped in to help organize the Fresno Veterans Day parade.
He's been the face of it ever since.
His good friend Charlie Waters remembered his determination to keep the parade going.
"He was just, "Attack!" which we love because we're all in that vain. and he says 'Chaz! we gotta get this gig done.' Whatever it was."
Bill Dietzel, Mar. 30, 2012: "The world is going to go on with or without Bill Dietzel. But protecting the Veterans Day Parade is number one. and I have people around me that can step in and do it tomorrow."
Dietzel had been fighting cancer for the last year...
It was in his lungs, his spine, and his pelvic bone.
But waters says Dietzel had been at peace with the diagnosis.
He had an idea how to beat it...
He shared it with us last year...
Bill Dietzel, Mar. 30, 2012: "Attitude, attitude, attitude. Keep that going. Keep a positive mental attitude and life will take care of itself."}
Bill Dietzel died this afternoon.
He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren...
He was 79 years old.
Memorial services are now in the works for April 6th.
Details of that are expected in the next couple of days.
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