Dieter Kulicke

Klaus-Dieter Herbert Kulicke, was born on November 9, 1940, in Berlin, Germany. Dieter, along with his parents, Herbert Gustov and Ursula Frieda (Kaps) Kulicke, became US citizens, in 1961. He married Willa Ruth (Billups) Kulicke, on March 21, 1964, and recently celebrated 60 years of marriage. They raised 3 daughters together; Dietra, Lisa, and Vicky.

Dieter is preceded in death by both parents; his siblings by marriage, Dennis Paul Billups, Isabelle and Don Whisman, Ella Mae Higgenbotham, LeRoy Bugger, Maggie, and Allen Billups; and great-grandson, Canaan Kulicke. Dieter is survived by his beloved wife, Willa; his siblings by marriage, Robin Billups and Faye Bugger; his children, Dietra Kulicke and Gary Laun, Lisa (Kulicke) and Frank Dopkiss, Vicky Kulicke and Ezell Grigsby; grandchildren, Emily (Kulicke) and Colin Nolan, Klaus Alexander and Kate Kulicke, Madison Dopkiss, Olivia Dopkiss and Steven Hartnagel, Michael Dopkiss, Anthony Grigsby, Gabrielle Dopkiss and Sophia Grigsby; bonus daughter, Debbie Huff; great-grandchildren, Lilliana, Everleigh and Klaus Rylan Kulicke, Stella and Piper Nolan, and Rain and Bowie Hartnagel.

Dieter graduated from Fenn College with a bachelor’s in industrial engineering and continued his education, earning a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, from Cleveland State University. His successful career spanned four decades and culminated with his retirement, from International Specialty Tube, as President/COO.

In his own words, Dieter had many passions. In his retirement, Dieter especially loved any opportunity to fish, journal, and spend time in his yard nurturing his plants. Dieter was an accomplished collegiate all-American swimmer, who competed into late adulthood in the master’s program, but his true love was swimming in open waters. His love for aquatics led to many decades of officiating diving and swimming at the high school and collegiate levels. In addition to swimming, Dieter also played soccer for Fenn (Cleveland State University) College and completed a three-person triathlon.

Once in the US, Dieter learned English through reading comic books which led to a lifelong passion for all things comic book-related, including dragging all three girls to comic conventions throughout their entire childhood.

A celebration of life is being planned for early Summer.

Memorials can be made in Dieter’s name to Wounded Warrior Project.