Eduard Dietmaier

Eduard Dietmaier was born on March 13th, 1919 in Anger, Germany. Dietmaier completed grade school in Oberammergau, Germany, where he remained to continue his education at the State School of Woodcarving. Following graduation, Dietmaier attended the Art University of Munich. 

Taking a chance, Eduard immigrated to La Crosse, WI, in 1953. Highly skilled and educated in both painting and wood carving, Dietmaier was sought out and recruited by the E. Hackner Co. shortly after his arrival.

Dietmaier continued working for the company, creating altars, paintings, and other works of art until the company closed its doors in 1967. While working for the company, Dietmaier created his own works of art, featuring them in exhibitions. Eduard’s work was featured in two exhibitions, the first in 1954, and the second in 1963. Both of these took place at Viterbo College, known today as Viterbo University.

Furthermore, Dietmaier won various awards for his creations. In 1956, Eduard won the Gimbel Brothers’ award at the Wisconsin Salon of Art for his sculpture, the “Flight to Egypt.” Dietmaier also won an award for his sculpture, “A Holy Family,’ at the University of Wisconsin Exhibition of Wisconsin Artists a few years after receiving his first award. 

Following his time at the company, Dietmaier opened his own studio at his home in La Crescent. Here, with his son, Nick,  he continued to hone his craft, continuing to feature in exhibitions, obtaining awards, and crafting carvings for churches both locally, and nationally. Eduard passed away on November 25th, 2007, but his work lives on and is present in churches across the nation.