Sanford Richard Dietzen

Sanford “Sandy” Richard Dietzen, 69, of Stockton, CA died on April 19, 2018. Sandy was born in Yakima, Washington on November 6, 1948 to John and Elizabeth (Schneider) Dietzen. Sandy was the second of seven children in the Dietzen tribe that eventually settled in Moses Lake, Washington. The Dietzen’s were a prominent family in the area and owned many businesses. Sandy graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1967 after attending Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, Washington. He then went on to graduate from Gonzaga University with a degree in English Literature and Philosophy in 1971. While in high school Sandy was voted “Handsome Harry” by his classmates, a recognition he liked to mention with both pride and humor. In his high school and college years Sandy was an accomplished athlete having competed on the high school football, basketball and baseball teams and the collegiate diving team. One of Sandy’s favorite memories and a time he spoke of very fondly was his year of college spent in Florence, Italy. He also achieved his Masters of Arts from Gonzaga in Counseling and Rehabilitation in 1974. Sandy went on to enroll in a Ph.d. program for Psychology at Washington State University which he completed in 1983. In between his higher educational years, Sandy served in the United States Navy Reserves in 1972 as a Corpsman attached to the Marines at Camp Pendleton, California. He was then stationed in Oakland, California at the Oak Noll Naval Hospital, where he met Karen Mertens of Lexington, Kentucky, whom he later married and had four children with. Having always dreamed of living the California lifestyle, Sandy moved the family to Stockton, California in 1981. It was there that Sandy worked as a Psychologist for the California Youth Authority, raised his four children, and remained until his death. He loved Stockton, and was one of its biggest supporters. Sandy was an incredibly creative and artistic man. He loved singing, playing the guitar, painting, and wood-working. He also loved gardening and had a special adoration for roses. He deeply loved his children and spent many years coaching their teams in soccer and softball, while encouraging them to all graduate from college and graduate school programs. He is survived by his sons Fredrick (Erin), and Thadeus (Karin Gillingham); daughters Rebecca and Elizabeth (Daniel) Olsen; brothers Christopher (Peggy), Timothy (Judy), Scott (Mishal); sisters Judy (Joe Arruda), Mary (Bruce Spencer), and Patricia Delaney; 10 grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by the mother of his children Karen Dietzen. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Michael Delaney and son-in-law Wesley Andrews. A memorial service to celebrate Sandy’s life will be held on Friday May 18, 2018 at the Church of the Presentation, 6715 Leesburg Pl, Stockton, CA, at 10:00 a.m. with a reception to follow at Market Tavern, 236 Lincoln Center, Stockton, CA. Please feel welcome to join the family for the service or reception or both. In lieu of flowers please consider supporting ArtExpressions San Joaquin or Stockton Beautiful. Sandy taught us many things but the one we wish for you to carry is: “Above all – there is love.”