Todd Phillip DeKam

Todd Phillip DeKam unexpectedly passed away from natural causes on December 24, 2024, in Fort Collins, CO at the age of 51. Born in Sheldon, IA to Wayne and Patricia (née Dykstra) DeKam, Todd primarily grew up in Colorado Springs, CO.

He attended Colorado Springs Christian High School, graduating in 1991, and soon thereafter started at the University of Northern Colorado. In 1997, he completed a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting. During his professional career, Todd worked primarily as a database engineer for Oracle and Paycor. As a young adult, Todd also had distinct memories working at Windsor Recreation Center, Ptarmigan Country Club, and Gart Sports.

Todd was an exceptional brother, son, and friend whose spirit touched the lives of many. As the middle child, he naturally embraced the roles of peacemaker, defender, protector, and disruptor, by adapting to the needs of those around him with grace, empathy, and just enough snark. His love for his family and friends was boundless, and he consistently went above and beyond to ensure their happiness and well-being. No task too great, no distance too far; Todd's unwavering dedication to his loved ones was a hallmark of his character. He especially will be remembered as a generous person, because he was known to give his time, knowledge, and occasionally possessions to family and acquaintances alike. Even strangers sometimes benefited from Todd’s generosity.

In his early years, Todd's world revolved around fishing. He relished the quiet moments spent on the water, waiting patiently for the next bite. He also enjoyed rereading his favorite books, particularly those by Louis L’Amour and works by J.R.R. Tolkien. As he grew older, his love for sports flourished. Baseball, football, and tennis each became an addition to his teenage and young adult years. His competitive spirit shone brightly, matched only by his love for playful banter and the camaraderie among teammates and friends. Unafraid to push boundaries, Todd took every opportunity to engage in impromptu "wrestling practice" in the living room or prove his mettle on the football field. His infectious laughter and warm presence were a testament to the joy he found in the company of those he cherished most. In adulthood, Todd was also supportive to Chad and Brian, and he spent one-on-one time with each of them as a loving brother and friend. When his nephews and niece were children, he frequently attended family events and is fondly remembered as a fun and involved uncle.

In the 2010s, Todd helped raise and train two puppies, Sunny and Sassy. Both grew into very memorable adult dogs for him—he reminisced about them monthly until his death. Particularly, he felt accomplishment from the dog handling and training skills he learned. Sunny, from Guide Dogs for the Blind, offered Todd a fantastic experience to help raise an easy-to-train puppy. He affectionately remembered Sunny’s interest in shiny and bright things. For this, he helped train her to ignore such items by carrying a sequined women’s top around the mall while walking Sunny and painting his own nails bright colors. Sassy also had a special place in Todd’s heart. The past several years he only saw Sassy for a few weeks each year as her dogsitter; however, he still wholeheartedly enjoyed her quirks as a boxer, her happy demeanor, and play wrestling in the living room.

Since 2020, Todd was a doting pet dad and general animal lover. He shared many pets with Jess and enthusiastically told her every day that their pets needed “just one more snack” or that they “looked hungry”. Todd generated many good memories for himself and others by expressing joy and creating happy moments with animals. In his late forties, Todd’s favorite activities included bird watching, learning about wild animals, hiking, enjoying good meals with Jess, volunteering weekly at Rescued Friends Animal Sanctuary, watching and discussing television shows, rewatching clips from his favorite movies and memorable sports events, plus listening to his favorite music. He is also remembered as a very thoughtful person and was someone who focused on trying to “do the right thing” at home and at work. Doing the right thing was one of Todd’s personal values and he tended to intensely contemplate ideas and decisions.

Throughout his life, Todd was considerate and caring. His kind heart and perpetual willingness to lend a helping hand are two of his most memorable traits that we can carry with us. At work, Todd was a valued member of his team, offering insights, recommendations, and programming help to his fellow team members. At home, he was a protective person and always aimed to ensure the safety of those he cared about. Technical specifications of flashlights, knives, and firearms were three things one might find him browsing the internet for. Lastly, he is distinctly remembered by his typical, daily outfit. Throughout his adult life, one would frequently find him wearing a ball cap, sweatshirt, jean shorts, and athletic shoes—his favorite pair, black and hot pink.

He is survived by his spouse Jessica Cobb, parents Wayne and Patricia, older brother Chad (Alison) DeKam, younger brother Brian (Ashley) DeKam, nephews Dillon Gaikoski, Isaiah and Fischer DeKam, nieces Danell Williams and Annalise (née DeKam) Osborne, and previous spouse Jennifer (née Harding) Middleton. Notably, he is preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Aletha Dykstra, with whom he shared a birthday, as well as his paternal grandparents, Peter and Marie DeKam.

A Celebration of Life for Todd will be held Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Allnutt Funeral Service - Drake Chapel, 650 W. Drake Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80526. Todd's favorite colors were black, blue, and pink, so guests are encouraged to wear casual clothing in these colors. If you are not able to attend, a livestream will be available. Once the livestream link is created, it will be posted here in the obituary.

The family has requested that, out of respect for their loved one, attendees not bring any small children to the service. They thank you in advance and look forward to celebrating Todd's life together with you.

In lieu of flowers, please consider monetary donations in Todd’s name to Rescued Friends Animal Sanctuary, organizations related to breast cancer or survivors of sexual violence, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and organizations involving the support of wildlife or domestic pets.

The service will be livestreamed. To view the livestream, you can follow this link:

https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c25033286101145