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Paul George Diefenbach, II, Past Commander of the American Legion Department of Nevada, and member of the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame, died Sept.11, 2018 on his terms, at home, with his wife by his side and his dog and cat at his feet. He was 77 years old.

A public Memorial Service is planned for Sept. 22, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. at Palm Mortuary-Downtown.

Interment will take place privately at Mount Vernon Memorial Park in Fair Oaks, Calif.

Paul was born in Lexington and graduated with the class of 1958. He was a lifelong Nebraska Cornhuskers fan. His induction into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 was on the 50th anniversary of his high school’s Championship Season, when they not only went unbeaten, but unscored upon.

Paul moved to Nevada in 1996. He resided all over the State, Carson City, Yerington, White Pine County, North Las Vegas, Hawthorne, but by far, his favorite time and place was the six years he spent in White Pine County in 1999-2005. Paul was on the Ruth Town Council, the Mount Wheeler Power electrical cooperative Board of Directors, and for a short time, served as chairperson of the White Pine County Democratic party.

Paul was a veteran of the United States Army, serving from 1959 to 1966. He also worked at the Sacramento Army Depot as a technician for 12 years, before retiring in 1993.

He was active in the American Legion, was a Past Commander of Post 51 of North Las Vegas, as well as serving in many Department of Nevada offices. An avid sports fan, Paul also loved to fish and play golf.

Paul is survived by his wife of 28 years, Laurie Diefenbach, his ex-wife and mother of his children, Norma Diefenbach of Sacramento, his sisters Jacquie Smeltzer of Minnesota, Faith (Stan) Derickson of Wyoming, and Marcia (Lanny) Parker of Arizona, his daughter Debbie (Steve) Lohse of Oregon, his daughter Cyndi (Gene) Suddeth of Citrus Heights, Calif., his son Paul (Christy) Diefenbach III of Carmichael, Calif., his daughter Julie (Dave) Andree of Rocklin, Calif., his son Jeff (Tami) Diefenbach of Sacramento, his daughter Kristi Diefenbach of Sacramento, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Paul battled Parkinson’s disease for many years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Keep Memory Alive! at Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, or the American Legion, Department of Nevada.