Rhodie Lynch
Rhodie Lynch was born in a cabin in Salt Lick, Kentucky in 1935, one of 13 children, to Levi and Elizabeth. They moved to a farm near Caseville when she was young. She passed away at MediLodge of Gaylord, July 1, 2025.
Rhodie worked as a waitress around the restaurants and resorts of the Caseville area starting in the Caseville Dairy Bar at the age of 12 and eventually the Bella Vista. She liked conversing with customers and enjoyed seeing seasonal visitors return each year. A very hard worker, she was experienced in all areas of the many restaurants and hotels she worked, serving as hostess, bartender, or brunch preparer, but she loved being a waitress the most.
It was in Caseville where she met and married Lyle Diller and had three children. They later moved to Grayling and Indian River following his job with the Department of Natural Resources. Divorced in 1982, she continued living and working in Indian River, then moved to Miamisburg, Ohio working in restaurants there. She later returned to the area working in Mackinaw City and Cheboygan until retiring at age 70. Her health necessitated her move to MediLodge in Gaylord.
Rhodie was a wonderful cook and baker; known especially for her bread and pies, which she shared with everyone. Generous to a fault, she gave her possessions freely to anyone who needed them and would even insist you take something if you commented on it. She enjoyed reading, hunting for morels in the late spring, and canning tomatoes and pickled beets in early fall.
Her first son, Sonny (Lyle Jr.) died as a child. She is survived by her sons, Robert Allen and Gregory Michael (Mary) Diller; grandchildren, Kathryn (Brett) Gleason, Jay Michael Diller and Martin (Laura) Diller; and great-grandchildren, Nicolina Grace, Cecelia Joy, Mary Kathryn and Azelea Rose. Rhodi
Rhodie will be buried next to her son, Lyle Jr. in Caseville.
Rhodie had a fondness for animals, especially dachshunds and cats. Memorial contributions in her name can be sent to the Cheboygan Humane Society, 1536 Hackleburg Road, Cheboygan, Michigan 49721 or Canines for Change, a training facility for future service dogs for vets, and children and adults with disabilities, 5573 N. Michigan Road, Diamondale, MI. 48821.
The family would like to thank the many wonderful people who cared for her at MediLodge.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Paul Catholic Church in Onaway at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 29. Rhodie’s final resting place will be in Caseville at the Caseville Township Cemetery.
