Scott Andrew Dykema

Scott Dykema passed away on October 15, 2026 at home peacefully with his family after courageously battling a rare form of bone marrow cancer for many years. He was rarely seen without his green and gold Green Bay Packers cap, and he could make you smile even in the hardest of times.

Scott’s greatest love was his family. His two children were the light of his life. He was a loving husband and a kind and patient father and then joyously a grandfather. He took great pride in his family and in sharing his life’s passions with them. He took the family regularly to hike in the Shenandoah. As a former lifeguard who also did ski patrol, he taught his children to swim and ski and even had the courage to teach them to drive. He took them, as adults, to Glacier National Park to share his love of that park, that he had visited regularly for decades with his two best high school buddies. Scott also shared his love of music with his family, especially jazz and the blues. He played the trombone, returning to it in his senior years, after not having played since middle school. Scott also imparted to his children the importance of caring for others. He had a kind, gentle spirit, filled with a quiet generosity. He connected with people wherever he went through his wit, empathy and open heart.

Scott was born in 1953 in Neenah, Wisconsin to William Dykema and Mildred (Connie) Baruth, joining older siblings, Bill and Laurie. He grew up in Appleton. You can take the boy out of Wisconsin, but you cannot take Wisconsin out of the boy. Scott graduated from Appleton West High School in 1971. His first job was at Hoffensberger meats making sausages. He remained a big fan of Wisconsin sausage and cheddar cheese which he would later import to Virginia for Packer game day with the family. Scott completed his B.S. in International Studies and Mass Communications at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, where he discovered his love of travel and other cultures after a life changing study abroad experience in Malaysia.

In 1975 he moved to D.C. to pursue his Master’s in International Affairs from The George Washington University. It was in D.C., at the ice-skating rink on the National Mall, where Scott met his wife of 45 years, Colleen. With enduring love, they went on to share life’s joys, challenges and adventures as partners and soulmates.

In 1978 Scott landed his first job as a reporter for BNA (the Bureau of National Affairs). At BNA Scott covered international trade, taxes, and congress. When he left BNA he went on to work for McGraw Hill as an economic policy reporter. He then jumped into the wired news service world with both feet by opening the Washington office of Bloomberg Business News and becoming their Chief Washington Correspondent. After spending much time in the Treasury Newsroom reporting for Bloomberg, Scott made the shift into becoming a public affairs officer for the Treasury Department. He would then go on to become a successful speech writer for many years writing for the Secretaries of Treasury, Transportation and Commerce, and finally for the Chairman of the FDIC. Scott had a passion for knowledge and for making the world a better place. When he retired, he used his background experience in public affairs to work as a volunteer consultant helping set up public affairs operations in Albania, Tunisia, and Algeria. Scott was a very accomplished yet modest man.

Scott’s resilience was legendary throughout and following his Bone Marrow Transplant in 1997. He was diagnosed with an aggressive non-Hodgkins lymphoma at age 42 as a result of environmental exposure to toxic materials at his workplace, in a sick building that would later be demolished. Even then he said, “I will do my part, but my life is in God’s hands.” He was always grateful for the time God gave him to raise his children. He continued to deal with the ramifications of his transplant. Later in life, he faced cardiac complications and a years-long battle with MDS/AML (bone marrow cancer) that required him to get frequent blood transfusions and endure multiple hospitalizations for infections and pneumonias. His positive spirit and concern for others outweighed his own struggles to the extent that few really understood the depth of his medical challenges. His heart was filled with love and gratitude for the nurses and doctors who so expertly and with so much compassion guided him through his medical journey, especially these past few years. Scott’s motto, which inspired others, was “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and accept what you get.” Scott lived life to the fullest, and he brought joy to the many lives he touched.

Scott is survived by his wife, Colleen Osgood-Dykema, his daughter Caitlin Glomb, her husband Chris Glomb, his son Patrick Dykema, his wife Lisa Reintsma, and his grandson, Oliver James Dykema.

A Memorial Mass will be held to honor and celebrate Scott’s life at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Arlington on Saturday, November 7, at 10 AM. Reception to follow.