Thomas William Diekmann

Thomas William Diekmann died at home in Jacksonville, FL on January 18, 2017 following a two and a half year battle with lung cancer. He was 77 years old. Born October 30, 1939 in Weston, WV, Tom, a proud Eagle Scout, graduated from St. Patrick’s School and Weston High School (class of 1957) before entering the United States Naval Academy (22nd Company) in Annapolis, MD. It was during this time on the Chesapeake Bay that Tom developed a passion for sailing which would become an important part of his retirement years with his wife, Sarah. Following graduation from USNA in 1961, Tom reported to Pensacola, FL for flight school and earned his wings in October, 1962. After a stint as a flight instructor with VT-1, Tom went on to fly F-8’s with VFP-63 at Cecil Field. Medically grounded in 1965, he went on to serve aboard the Macdonough and Navarro. Tom waded ashore in Coronado, CA in early 1967 to begin life as a civilian. He joined the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft division of United Technologies as a test and flight engineer in the commercial engine division in Hartford, CT where he was most gratified with his work on the JT9D engines utilized by early versions of the Boeing 747. In late 1976, having promised Sarah they would spend only five years “up North”, she informed him over a gin martini that he had been volunteered to join the military division of P&W on the edge of the Everglades in West Palm Beach, FL. Tom retired early in 1998 so he and Sarah could fulfill the dream they conceived in 1968 to live and enjoy life aboard their beloved sailboat, Precept. After enjoying the cruising lifestyle domestically and abroad, they returned ashore in Jacksonville, FL in 2006. He was preceded in death by his parents Henry August and Maude Eleanor Diekmann of Weston, WV and his sister Mary Diekmann Kopp of Bridgeport, WV. Tom is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sarah; sons Thomas William Jr. (Kathleen) of Hollister, CA, Mark of West Palm Beach, FL, Carl of Jacksonville, FL; daughter Amanda of New York, NY; granddaughter Sarah of Denver, CO; grandsons Matthew, Aidan, and Connor of Hollister, CA. A graveside committal service with Military Honors will be held January 24 at 11:30 a.m. at the Jacksonville National Ceremony. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice or the Community Hospice of Northeast FL.