A Kentucky native, Nicholas James Dieruf was born to Charles Dieruf II and Barbara Greer Dieruf in Lexington May 20, 1982, the youngest of four Dieruf boys. Often described as a quirky kid, Nich loved to take things apart and was not always able to put all the pieces back together again. Nich attended Christ the King elementary, Beaumont Middle, and Dunbar High Schools. Following in the footsteps of his older brothers, Nich found interest in baseball as a youngster and track through his high school career.

After high school Nich made a quick attempt at college before deciding that route was not for him. In an effort to create order and discipline in his life, Nich enlisted in the Marines in 2000. Soon after enlisting, he realized that there was a reason that only the Marine recruiting office was open on Sunday…because they never stop working! His first three months in the Marines found Nich in Pharris Island for boot camp. Afterwards Nich became a "west coast" Marine joining thousands at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California for the next four years. Nich served as a gunner and driver of a Light Armored Vehicle.

Year 2002 added some pizzazz to the monotonous day-to-day life of this Marine. In August Nich met Emily Duncan, his future wife. Several plane rides back and forth across the United States by both parties, and countless hours on the phone led to a promise ring for Emily in January 2003 before Nich was deployed on his first tour of Iraq. Nich decided while he was deployed that if Emily was home waiting for him when he got back from war, he wanted to marry her.

Nich returned home from Iraq in late May 2003 to a huge Welcome Home/Happy 21st Birthday party at his mother’s farm in Versailles. After a quick weekend trip home, he came back to Lexington for a longer leave block over the July 4 holiday. On July 3 he asked Emily’s father for her hand in marriage, and on July 5 he proposed! Original plans had the wedding taking place after Nich’s military career in summer 2005. However, being the persistent, loving man that he was, Nich convinced both Emily and her family that a wedding needed to happen sooner.

Orders to re-deploy to Iraq in mid-February 2004 came in fall 2003, however that did not stop Nich or Emily from moving full steam ahead with the wedding plans. A beautiful wedding occurred on January 3 without a hitch. After a honeymoon and a quick drive across country, Emily joined Nich in California for six weeks before he was to re-deploy. The two enjoyed their married life together with their future looking bright as Nich was to get out of the Marines the following October 2004. The two kissed goodbye and hugged each other tight for the last time on February 18, 2004. Nich reassured Emily that he would be home to see her again in October. Nich's unit was operating along the western Iraqi and Syrian border doing border patrol.

Tragically two uniformed officers informed the Dieruf families that their Nich was lost on April 8, 2004. Nich was buried with full military honors at Lexington’s Calvary Cemetary on Friday April 16, 2004. Thousands came out to pay their respects to the local soldier who had given all for his country, and for them.

Nich is survived by his wife, Emily; mother Barbara Greer Dieruf; father Charles Dieruf II; brothers Charlie, Matt and Paul Dieruf.