Herman Diers, a wise and compassionate man of exceptional grace and generosity, a

community builder committed to peace and an end to hunger, died Mar. 7. He was 97.

Born in Hampton, IA, and raised in Lutheran parsonages across eastern Iowa, Herman earned

degrees from Wartburg College (BA), Wartburg Seminary (MDiv), Northwestern (MA), and

Berkeley (PhD), and honorary degrees from Dana and Wartburg colleges.

On Dec. 28, 1950, he married Dorothy Lange. They first lived in Burnaby, BC to found Grace

Lutheran Church. In 1959 they moved to Waverly, IA, where they both worked at Wartburg

College until 1993, with Herman serving as chaplain for ten years, and then as a professor

teaching religion and humanities.

At Wartburg, Herman was an innovative educator with a passion for promoting experiential

learning, critical thinking, and cross-cultural experiences. He led “Venture Education”, placing

students in international settings; he developed “Chrysalis”, a communal living/learning

program; he valued team-teaching and student initiative. Herman was a leader in organizing

Lutheran college educators in peace education, and celebrated multi-cultural gifts through

campus events such as “Ujamaa Week” and “Hunger Awareness Week”.

For years Herman was the organizer and narrator for “Christmas at Wartburg”, working in

tandem with the music department. After one performance a young girl asked if (Herman’s)

voice was the voice of God. Her mother’s reply: “Pretty close.”

Herman didn’t just teach peace and justice, he acted on it. Although he made college and

church leaders and many community members uncomfortable, he campaigned for an end to the

Vietnam War and a freeze on nuclear weapons. Herman was active in Waverly’s Human

Relations Association, welcoming people of color and advocating for fair housing. At the same

time, he had a remarkable ability to maintain civil conversations with those who disagreed.

Herman and Dorothy provided a loving and dynamic home for their five children, while also

welcoming others to live with them—e.g. A refugee from Vietnam, foster teenagers, an alienated

teenager from Mexico, an adult student from Tanzania, college students, etc. with most staying

for years! The Diers’ round dinner table was replete with hospitality and lively conversation.

In 1993, they retired to Tacoma to volunteer under Associated Ministries in the Hilltop

neighborhood, there listening to, living with, and organizing with a community challenged by

limited resources and contending with crime and drug dealers. 95 block groups were

established to empower the neighborhood. While the joy and satisfaction of building community

were enough, Herman (and Dorothy) received numerous awards, including “The City of Destiny

Award” (City of Tacoma); “Humanitarian of the Year” (Franciscans); awards from the NAACP,

and the Southwestern Synod of the ELCA. Herman’s image is etched into the facing of the

parking garage at St. Joseph’s Hospital as a neighborhood hero.

Herman and Dorothy were extraordinarily generous throughout their lives, sharing abundantly of

their gracious and enthusiastic spirit, and also as generous financial supporters of causes that

shared their deep commitment to battling hunger locally and globally, organizations such as

Bread for the World, Lutheran World Relief, Global Refuge, and Lutheran Community Services,

as well as numerous local non-profits.

Herman and Dorothy enjoyed extensive travel across six continents, travel that arose from their

curiosity and sense of adventure, but also were trips where they sought to grow in the

education: India (Gandhian development theory), Mexico (Liberation Theology), Nepal (LWR

projects), Namibia and South Africa (national liberation movements), Tanzania (Church and

education connections), etc.

Herman shared with Dorothy a passion for bicycling on the Foothills Trail, around the Hilltop

Neighborhood, on long distance rides with their children (including RAGBRAI).

Herman is survived by his brother Art (Susie); children Jim (Sarah), Gary (Inanna), Brent

(Colleen), Paul (Laurie), Judy (David); five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lutheran World Relief (lwr.org), Associated

Ministries (associatedministries.org), Bread for the World (bread.org), and/or compose a letter of

advocacy to end hunger or oppose war.

A memorial service and lunch will be at 11am Saturday, April 18 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

by the Narrows, Tacoma (Herman’s beloved church community).