Lance A. Diernback

Lance Andrew Diernback, 76, of ACTS community in Lower Gwynedd, PA, passed away on November 3rd, 2024. He was born and raised in Philadelphia and was a 1967 graduate of Central High School. After graduating from Drexel University in 1972, Lance received an Army commission as a Second Lieutenant via Drexel Army ROTC, and commenced active duty for 3 years with Army Computer Systems Command, where he was able to apply his education and experience. After active duty, the Army offered Lance a civilian employment opportunity in southern California. He moved there in 1976 and spent the next 42 years building a career as an Aerospace software engineer, providing on-console support for 10 satellite launches. He took great pride in the logo designs he created for each mission. Lance stayed active in the Army Reserve for many years and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Lance had a lifelong passion for computers and technology and was meticulously organized and detail oriented.  His interests included art, science fiction, politics, pop culture, reading, and collecting first edition books.  He was uniquely interesting, decisive, and highly intelligent, but also had an enormous heart, a forgiving soul, and a great sense of humor.  He was always quick with a quip. An extremely generous person, Lance proudly contributed to the education of all his great nieces and nephews.

Family was very important to Lance. He enjoyed coming home to PA whenever possible, especially every Christmas.  He never missed an important event or an opportunity to give a thoughtful gift. For many years he treated family to special annual holiday dinners. Some of his family's fondest memories are of their trips to California to visit Lance. He took great care to make each visit extra special, planning road trips and fun adventures that showcased places he most wanted to share with those he loved.

Lance lived in several places in California, Chatsworth being his last neighborhood of residence. He was on his own when the Army moved him to California, so the friendships he made there were especially significant in his life. His enduring friendships with Judy, Dave, and Jessie Turchin were of the utmost importance to him, and the Turchins always included him in holidays, hosted his birthday parties, and remained his faithful confidants. Lance returned to Pennsylvania in 2018 as he aged to be closer to his family. His niece and nephew, Dan and Jenn Gnau, had the privilege of assisting with his care for the last two years as his health declined from Parkinson's disease.

Lance was preceded in death by Elizabeth "Aunt Betty" Kissling, who raised him as her son, and he was close to his beloved sister Barbara (Kenneth) Gnau. Lance never married but is survived by his sister Naomi (James) Bristol, nephews Daniel (Jennifer) Gnau, Ken (Joanne) Gnau, nieces Donna (Gary) Bonar and Carrie Cafiero (Dan Hall), as well as his cherished great-nieces Lindsey (Mike Gamble) and Mia Wavrek (Hailee Korotkin), and great-nephews Ethan, Evan, and Brandan Gnau.

Donations may be made in his memory to the Army Emergency Relief fund online at http://www.armyemergencyrelief.org/donate/ .  He did not wish to have any services, but instead wanted friends and family to remember him and speak fondly of him forever and ever.