Thomas Deiker

October 19, 2021

Thomas Deiker

Service Details

Thomas E. Deiker, husband, father and grandfather, (beekeeper, playwright, stained glass artist, photographer, bread-baker, snake-charmer, sky-diver, jam-maker) died Tuesday, October 19, 2021, of natural causes after a long struggle with dementia.

He was born in Peoria, Illinois to Bob and Helen Deiker and attended college at St. Louis University, achieving his phD in Psychology from Louisiana State University. His professional life was spent in service to the mentally ill; first, as a clinical psychologist, then as an administrator of state psychiatric hospitals in Louisiana, New Mexico, and, lastly, for the Cherokee Mental Health Institute in Cherokee, Iowa, where he worked for 18 years. Defeating the institutional mistreatment of the mentally ill and ensuring a better quality of life for them was his life’s vocation.

He retired to Des Moines where he enjoyed participating in local theater as a playwright. He is survived by his wife, Susan LaFleur Deiker; his children, Steve (Anne) Deiker, Ted Deiker, Jenny (Sam) Deiker Restivo, and Leah “Beth” (Nate) Barber; grandchildren, Juanita Abler, Fritz Barber, and Veda Barber; and sister, Betty (Ray) Kramer.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 1:00 pm. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa.

The family requests masks and vaccinations. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity.

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