Pastor Ronald Lyell Diegel, 88, of Lexington, passed away on July 3, 2025 and went to be with his Lord after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Born in Albany, New York, on July 3, 1937, he was the son of Lyell and Miriam Diegel. He was married to the late Charlotte L. Diegel.
In his early life, Pastor Diegel served briefly in the United States Navy following graduation from Colonie Central High School in Albany, New York in 1955. Following this, he earned an associate’s degree in electrical engineering from Hudson Valley Tech and worked in turbine engineering for a time. Realizing that engineering was not the path for him, he sold Watkins cleaning products door to door to earn money to attend Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1962. Following graduation from Hartwick College, Pastor Diegel, still unsure of exactly what path he would follow as a career, providentially become friends with a Lutheran pastor who mentored Pastor Diegel and led him to Jesus. By this time, his parents had moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, so Pastor Diegel attended the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina, which was quite a change for a northern boy from Albany, New York, but it changed the trajectory of his life from that point forward. Prior to graduating with a seminary degree in 1965, and while in Columbia, he was introduced on a blind date to Charlotte Lesemann from Charleston, South Carolina, who was attending nursing school at the University of South Carolina. On September 11, 1965 they were married at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
Pastor Diegel’s first call to lead a church was in Burlington, North Carolina, as he became pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church where he stayed for approximately 4 years. In 1969, Pastor Diegel joined the United States Army as a chaplain and was soon on active duty where he was deployed to serve in Vietnam and specifically in the An Khê province. Serving in this mountainous region of Vietnam from 1970-71, Pastor Diegel flew from mountain to mountain in a wartime helicopter and would preach sermons and give communion to the troops – never carrying a weapon but seeing much conflict and many casualties. While in Vietnam, Pastor Diegel earned three Bronze Star Medals for meritorious achievement and service in a combat theater, the Air Medal for heroic and meritorious service while in aerial flight and the Army Commendation Medal for consistent acts of heroism, outstanding achievement and meritorious service.
Upon return from Vietnam, Pastor Diegel received a call to Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Irmo, South Carolina in 1972. He also earned his Master’s in Divinity from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in 1972. Further, while pastoring Bethlehem Lutheran Church, he earned a Master’s in Education from the University of South Carolina in 1980. Pastor Diegel faithfully served the congregation of Bethlehem from 1972 until his retirement in 1999 – overseeing a major building addition to the church in 1976 and the church’s 200 year anniversary in 1988. Upon retirement, Pastor Diegel and his wife joined St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Lexington where he enjoyed teaching Sunday school and making many new friends for many years. Golf was a past time he greatly enjoyed, and he also enjoyed keeping up with his beloved South Carolina Gamecocks and the Atlanta Braves.
Pastor Diegel is survived by his children, Ronnie Diegel (Ginger) and Becky Dezarn (David); his brother, Douglas Diegel (Helen); his sister, Eileen Posey; his grandchildren, Madison Gainey (Chris), Andrew Diegel, Ava-Coleman Diegel, Jackson Jernigan (Ellyce), and Ashton Whitt (Jacob); a step-grandchild, Shelby Johnson (Dustin); two great grandchildren, Caroline Gainey and Rhett Gainey; and one step-great grandchild, Walker Johnson.
The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the staff and caregivers at Wellmore who loved and cared for Pastor Diegel in a special way. The family is appreciative of the ministry of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Lexington, South Carolina, and Pastor Jason Antley.
A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, July 11, 2025 at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church Cemetery in Lexington, South Carolina. The family will receive friends following the service in the fellowship hall at the church. Memorials may be made to St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 119 North Church St., Lexington SC 29072. Barr-Price Funeral Home and Crematorium, Lexington Chapel, 609 Northwood Road, Lexington, SC 29072, is assisting the family.
