Lt. Colonel Peter James Deitschel U.S. Air Force (Ret.)

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be sent to an education fund for Peter’s children Kara and Patrick, the Lt. Col Peter J. Deitschel Memorial Scholarship at Texas State University or Texas Organ Sharing Association.

Education fund checks should be made out to Polly Deitschel FBO The Deitschel Family. Account number 101980752. The donations can be made in person or mailed to:

First United Bank c/o Polly Deitschel

4917 FM 3009

Shertz, TX 78154.

Checks for Lt Col Peter J. Deitschel Memorial Scholarship can be sent to:

Texas State University

Advancement Services JCK-480

Attn: Deitschel Scholarship Fund

601 University Drive

San Marcos, Texas 78666

Lt. Colonel Peter James Deitschel U. S. Air Force (Ret.), was an expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Peter, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Peter really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Peter was born on January 30, 1967 at Good Samaritan hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. His parents are Dr. Charles and Lois Deitschel. Peter was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. Even as a child, Peter had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. Peter was raised with three siblings Cathy, Charlie and Andrew.

Peter experienced an active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in soccer, baseball, basketball, and wrestled. He was an eagle scout (not really but his children like to think he was because he was so good at camping). In his spare time, he liked to be outdoors, play sports, and ride his bike all over Cincinnati with his friends. Peter graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1985. He enjoyed his high school career especially the time he spent with great friends and the love of his life and best friend, Polly Meiners.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from Miami University, in Oxford Ohio. During his time at Miami, Peter was a member of AFROTC. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an officer and selected to attend Navigation School. He also pursued graduate school, earning his Masters of Human Resource Development from Webster University.

After seven years of dating, on Sept 16, 1989, Peter exchanged wedding vows with his best friend Polly Meiners at St. James Catholic Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were blessed with six children, four daughters, Jessica, Megan, Samantha, Kara, and two sons, James and Patrick.

Perhaps the reason Peter related so well to his children was because he was just a “kid at heart.” Peter had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all his attention was directed. He knew when to be silly with the kids and when it was time to be serious. He was always a loving and dedicated Dad and Husband. Together, Peter, Polly and the kids loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He had a love for national and state parks and sharing the real-life adventure with his kids. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Their favorite vacation was an RV trip to the Grand Canyon.

At work, as in life, Peter was a real people person. He had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. He believed the philosophy that co-workers are his family and treated them as such.

Peter was an Air Force veteran. In 1989, he commissioned and started his career in Undergraduate Navigator Training. After successfully completing training, he became a navigator on the KC-135R. In 1994, he was selected to be a Combat Crew Training School Instructor; and later, an instructor for the Combat Flight Instructor Course. Here he worked his way to Flight Commander of the Standards and Evaluations Flight. After that, he was assigned as a project manager at the Air Force Research Lab. He then transitioned to AFMC as the Deputy Chief of Officer Assignments. In 2004, Peter was assigned to the 562 FTS as an Instructor Navigator on the T-43A, which led to him becoming the ADO, DO, and finally the Commander of the Squadron. He culminated this assignment by retiring the T-43A, closing the squadron and transitioning the training to a new location. Following this accomplishment, he was appointed Deputy Group Commander for the 12th Operations Group until being selected as Commander of Detachment 840, Texas State ROTC. Peter retired from the Air Force as a Lt Col on October 1, 2015. He received several awards including Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Arial Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and Air Force Accommodation Medal with one oak leaf cluster.

Peter enjoyed his leisure time. His favorite hobbies were coaching, volunteering, cracking jokes, collecting snoopy things, camping, hiking, snow skiing, golf and anything family related. Peter started coaching soccer before any of his own children were old enough to play and has never stopped. He was passionate, shared his love of the game and always believed the underdog could prevail. He cultivated sportsmanship and the life lessons that could be learned through sports.

Peter had a deep belief in spiritual development and found himself involved in activities he deemed important. He was charitable, kind and giving, qualities that made him a natural volunteer. Peter was a volunteer for several community groups, as well as Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and School.

Surrounded by his family, Peter suddenly passed away on December 31, 2016 at SAMMC Hospital. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Polly, his six kids, Jessica (Jeff), James, Megan, Samantha, Kara, Patrick, his parents, Dr. Charles and Lois Deitschel, his siblings Cathy (Tony), Charlie, Andrew (Pam). Other family includes his in laws, William and Joan Meiners, Polly's nine siblings, and many nieces and nephews. Services will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Peter will be laid to rest in Fort Sam Houston Cemetery.

Peter believed that you had to experience life and brought joy to all those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all his activities with his friends and family. Lt. Colonel Peter James Deitschel U.S. Air Force (Ret.) lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.