J. Thomas Deitschel

John Thomas Deitschel ("Tom/J.T./Chief") passed away peacefully in his Albuquerque home on December 16, 2013 at the age of 87. Tom Deitschel began his life on April 16, 1926 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was the younger child of Andrew and Alice Deitschel. Tom shared his childhood with his sister, Dorothy and his dogs. Tom grew up working in the family grocery store. He often joked that he worked there so much that there is not a single photo from his childhood that he is not wearing an apron. Perhaps it was working in the store with his father that first began Tom's unparalleled generosity. This was during The Depression and the Deitschels always had a pot of stew on the stove in the back of the store for whoever was in need. After finishing high school, Tom joined the armed forces and served in the Navy near the end of World War II. Forever humble, Tom constantly down played his service saying he spent his time getting sunburned in Hawaii. His family and friends knew that there was a constant threat of deployment to Japan and that Tom was as dutiful in his service to his country as he was in all other aspects of his life. After the war, Tom came home to Indiana, and on one fateful night while at a lake house party, Tom saw a beautiful young woman sitting on the kitchen counter drinking a beer. Asking his friend, "Who is that?" His friend replied "the housemother." Tom instantly knew that was the woman for him. And so it was that Tom met the woman who would be his best friend and the love of his life for 58 years, Janet Allen. Together Tom and Jan raised two daughters, Katie and PJ. Tom was a wonderful father and a great role model-encouraging his girls to follow the Golden Rule. PJ is a wildlife veterinarian in Florida. Katie is a mom/grandmother and small business owner with her husband, Andrew. Growing up with parents who taught them that pets are family, both daughters share a passion for animals. In time Tom became grandfather to two girls, Rachel and Anica, who have been quite smitten with him since the day they were each born. Tom adored his granddaughters and delighted in their much cherished tradition of going out for an ice cream date anytime they were together for a visit. As the years passed and ice cream turned into enchiladas and martinis at Charlie's Back Door, the girls understood it had never really been about the ice cream. This was Tom's way of having time alone with "his girls" to hear about their lives and talk about their secret fears and hopeful dreams. After many visits here and falling in love with New Mexico, Tom and Janet moved to Albuquerque in 1999 to be closer to the kids. During his career as a lawyer, Tom worked at Lincoln Life in Fort Wayne, Great Southern Life in Houston and Southwestern Life in Dallas. Throughout his life, Tom never knew a stranger. People were instantly captivated by his gentlemanly charm. Even as life took Tom and his family to different places, he took great joy in keeping in touch with old friends and family. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew "A.J." and Alice Deitschel; his sister and brother in law, Dorothy and Clint Fielder; his darling wife, Janet Allen Deitschel, and his great granddaughter, Brooklyn Skye Weum. He is survived by his "beloveds" - his daughters, Katie Deitschel Martinez and PJ Deitschel; his son-in-law, Andrew Martinez; his granddaughters, Rachel Willoughby and Anica Martinez, and much extended family. While Tom's family takes great comfort in his peaceful passing and quiet rest, they are truly heartbroken at the loss of such an unforgettable character, whom they had hoped to keep forever. The family sends many thanks and much love to all of those who have expressed their deep affection for Tom and their sorrow at his passing. The family asks, and what Tom would have wanted most of all, is that you please celebrate his life by raising a glass in his honor and a toast to his memory. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Animal Humane of NM, 615 Virginia SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, 505-255-5523 or animalhumanenm.org.