Maryellen "Mel" Jensen Dietz Obituary (1927

Maryellen "Mel" Jensen Dietz came by her love of butter honestly. Her father, an Iowan dairy farmer, measured the success of his business by the quality of his butter. He insisted his family eat dinner out once a week so he could keep abreast of his competition, testing the butter of local restaurants against the quality of his own. The higher the butter fat, the better the butter and his daughter, Maryellen carried this standard with her throughout her long and amazing life. She was never one to skimp on butter. Never. Maryellen was born May 6, 1927 in the small town of Hartley, Iowa but grew up in Sutherland, Iowa. She was the second youngest of six children and though her sisters were much older (18 and 7 years respectfully) she would remain lovingly devoted to them throughout her life. The family shared a love of music and the sisters each pursued careers as music teachers. An accomplished vocalist and oboist, Maryellen attended Lawrence College in Appleton, Wisconsin where, at a Valentine's Day dance, she met Robert "Bob" Dietz, the love of her life. In 1949, Bob and Maryellen married and after time in the midwest, they eventually settled in Bremerton, Washington in 1959 where Bob pursued a teaching career at Olympic College and Maryellen began her work as a vocal music teacher for the Bremerton School District, a career that would span some 35 years. Maryellen was meticulously organized, exceedingly patient, and generous to a fault devoting her life outside of teaching to a myriad of causes. She and Bob loved to entertain friends and colleagues, discussing political strategies while throwing elaborate dinner parties where Maryellen would replicate the latest Julia Child dishes and delicious desserts. Committed to the arts and social justice, Maryellen was an ardent supporter of the Seattle Symphony, the Seattle Opera, and served as treasurer for the Washington chapter of Very Special Arts. She was a faithful and active member of the Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for 60 years and after retirement from teaching, she volunteered for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate). In 1997, she received the Kitsap County YWCA Woman of Achievement Award for her community service. She always said growing old wasn't for sissies and she was no sissy. She marched into her senior years with courage and grace, dressed in an elegant outfit fitting every occasion. We all thought she'd live forever, that's how determined she was. Each morning she rose with a purpose whether to drive a friend to a doctor's appointment, to finish reading a newly published biography, to complete yet another puzzle, or to write letters for Amnesty International. She was committed to living her life to the fullest, every minute of every day. Sadly, a profound stroke on August 22, 2021 changed the course of her life and on October 12, in the mid-afternoon, Maryellen passed away holding the hands of her beloved grandchildren. She is remembered fondly by leagues of her students who often stopped by to visit or said hello at the grocery store; by numerous colleagues with whom she always kept in touch; and by her friends -- lifelong and recent -- who have lost a loyal confidant. As for her family, we will miss her insightful counsel, her gentle laugh and quick wit, her steadfast patience, her delicious raspberry cheesecake, her uncanny ability to load the dishwasher, and her devotion to butter. Maryellen is survived by her younger brother, Jim Jensen, her son Paul Dietz (Patti Dietz), her daughters Krista Dietz, Gretchen Dietz (Ann Gilpin), and two grandchildren Nathan Dietz (Lisa Dietz) and Lindsey Dietz.