Thomas Dethlefsen was born in Vail, Iowa. on the 23rd of January,1938. Tom attended elementary school in Cedar Rapids Iowa and finished grade school in Costa Mesa California after the family move in 1946. Tom graduated from Newport Harbor High School, Newport Beach class of 1956.
Tom served time in the US Army, attended Orange Coast College and completed his training and begun a career in the field of civil engineering.
He worked at several companies in the early days of his career and then settled in for the next twenty-four years working for the Jack G. Raab Company, which played an integral role in the development of Mission Viejo, CA
He was a member of the NRA, the Remington Society, the Veterans of Foreign Wars,
and the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.
He is survived by his wife, Elaine Dethlefsen, his son Steven Dethlefsen, his daughter,
Sarah Dethlefsen, his daughter – in-law, Cindy Dethlefsen. Four grandchildren: Tyson
Blake, Grant, and Jenna Dethlefsen. His brother, Roger Dethlefsen.
donations in his name will be accepted at woundedwarriorproject.org