Marvel Lester Deike

Age 96, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, July 22, 2017. Born on December 20, 1920 in Redwood Falls, Minnesota and raised in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota along with his three brothers and a sister. Marvel attended Moorhead State on a basketball scholarship before enlisting in the Army Air Corp during WWII where he flew 44 missions out of Northern Italy in a B-25 Mitchell where he received a purple heart during his tour of duty. After the war, he completed his education at North Dakota State University receiving a degree in Civil Engineering. After working on the Garrison Dam in Riverdale, North Dakota, he relocated with his wife and four children to Riverside, California. Marvel retired as a Civil Engineer from March Air Force Base at the age of 55 and then began his second career as a budget consultant for housing developments in and around the Inland Empire region for 25 years.

He was an avid sportsman and athlete enjoying fishing, golfing and tennis. He loved to work a crossword puzzle and read Western novels. He was a licensed Professional Civil Engineer, a member of NARFE, BPO ELK #643, VFW and Victoria Presbyterian Church.

He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years Yvonne; son Tom and daughter in-law Pat and their sons Paul and Keith; daughter Debbie and her husband Tom Lockwood and her son Sean Bennett and daughter Sarah Jones Smith; son David; daughter Nancy and her husband Donald Putnam and their daughter Emily Negretot and son Michael Putnam and 14 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Victoria Presbyterian Church, 6091 Victoria Avenue, Riverside, CA. Private burial will take place at the Riverside National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Victoria Presbyterian Church Reserve Maintenance Fund