John William Bill Diederich 76 of Incline Village Nev. died March 27 2006 in Charlottesville Va. He was born Aug. 30 1929 in Ladysmith Rusk County Wisconsin. He graduated from the Senior High School at Chippewa Falls Wis. in June 1947. He graduated from Marquette University's College of Journalism with a bachelor of philosophy degree in June 1951. He then served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps at Quantico Va. and Camp Lejeune N.C. He transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve in 1953 where he eventually attained the rank of lieutenant colonel before retiring 20 years later. After his active duty service in the Marine Corps Bill enrolled at the Harvard Business School in Boston where he graduated with a degree of master of business administration with high distinction in June 1955. Bill then joined the staff of Norfolk Newspapers Inc. (now Landmark Communications Inc.) of Norfolk as research director. He subsequently became the company's controller then secretary/treasurer and eventually executive vice president and chief financial officer before retiring in September 1990. Bill lived the typical American success story. Born into a family of modest means Bill achieved great success because he possessed the characteristics that helped make this a great nation. His parents instilled in him a deep commitment to hard work frugality love of family personal responsibility disdain for big government a deep and abiding faith in God and an unerring moral compass that would ever guide his life. Bill's greatest joy in life was his one true love. Bill met Mary Theresa Klein while attending Marquette University and they married during their senior year. She was his best friend his steadfast helpmate and his wife for more than 55 years. Bill's proudest achievements were his children whom he and Mary bestowed with life and love and raised to be contributing members of society. His great legacy was a gift to his alma mater Marquette University to endow the J. William and Mary T. Diederich School of Communication. This act of generosity capped a successful business career in which he helped build Landmark Communications Inc. and well-known media brands such as The Weather Channel and Trader Publications. He is survived by his wife Mary; 13 children and 21 grandchildren. His surviving children are Mary Evans of San Leandro Calif. Robert Diederich of Richmond Va. Charles Diederich of Alexandria Va. Michael Diederich of Richmond Patricia Irelan of Forest Grove Ore. Denise Diederich of Incline Village Nev. Carol Weaver of Virginia Beach Barbara Diederich of Sarasota Fla. Brian Diederich of Norfolk Tracy Diederich of Seattle Wash. Theodora Davidson of San Leandro Calif. Tamara Williams of Portland Ore. and Lorraine Diederich of Atlanta Ga. He is also survived by his sisters Mary Lanke of Plover Wis. and Elizabeth Martineau of DeBary Fla.; and a brother Francis Diederich of Middleton Wis. He was preceded in death by a daughter Donna and by his brothers James and Joseph. Memorial services will be held at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Virginia Beach at 11 a.m. Friday April 21 2006 and at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Port Washington Wis. Saturday April 29 2006. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Palliative Care Services c/o Juli Baird University of Virginia Health System P.O. Box 801024 Charlottesville VA 22908. br /Service:br /11:00 AM at on April 29 2006 (a target=_blank href=http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?city=Port Washingtonstate=WIaddress=zip=53074zoom=8map/driving directions/a) br/br/