Herman Porter Deinken enlisted and served with distinction as a pilot in the Army Air Corps in WWII in the China/Burma/India Theater and continued to be active in the Air Force Reserve including service as Commander of the 9831st Reserve Squadron; he retired with the rank of Colonel in 1979. His military awards and recognition include the Air, Asiatic Pacific Service, American Theater Services, WWII Victory, & Armed Forces Reserve Medals as well as the Presidential Unit Citation and Distinguished Unit Badge. How fitting that this veteran passed on a day devoted to remembering Pearl Harbor and the brave men and women who rose to the challenge of fighting for freedom. He received numerous awards, including a certificate of appreciation from the Department of the Army for patriotic civilian service. He had a special talent for helping to groom military professionals to work effectively with civilian scientists on defense related programs.
Dr. Herman P. Deinken, 90, died peacefully at home in Albuquerque on Monday, December 7, 2009 surrounded by loved ones. Born on April 9, 1919 near Amistad, NM, Herman grew up on the Hattie Pearl and Joseph C. Deinken homestead in Union County and later obtained a degree in Agriculture/Animal Husbandry from Texas Tech. After the war, Herman returned to the U.S. but was not demobilized immediately in order to ferry new aircraft to various destinations around the country. He was stationed for a time at Love Field in Dallas, where he reconnected with Elizabeth Fonda MacWilliams (Betty). They had met at the First Presbyterian Church in Lubbock before the war, and were married on April 13, 1946. Motivated by a new perspective on the world and inspired by the challenges he faced as a pilot during the war, he plotted a new flight path and decided to pursue a career in the sciences instead of working in agriculture. Betty accompanied him as he returned to study and they began to realize their dream of having a large family, even while living in a cramped married student housing apartment. He obtained his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Texas and accepted a position at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (now LANL). Herman worked at "The Lab" from 1956 until his retirement in 1982, where he continued to serve his country in defense research and development. For many years he managed a group that coordinated closely with members of the armed services on joint programs. Dr. Deinken is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elizabeth MacWilliams Deinken (whom he affectionately called Betsy); and his children, John Deinken and wife, Noelle (Mammoth Lakes, CA), Anna Lucas and husband, Beau (Dallas, TX), Jane Northcutt and husband, Randy (Shreveport, LA), Peter Deinken and wife, Dulce (Dallas, TX) and Margaret Nickel and husband, Curtis (Fresno, CA). Herman was the proud grandparent to ten grandchildren and loved family gatherings and travel. He and his wife Betty were avid travelers early in retirement and they had notable trips to Alaska, Europe, China, Israel and Honduras. Herman became interested in genealogy and – with his typical meticulous attention to detail – made multiple trips to Salt Lake City to research historic civil and church records in pursuit of details on his ancestors from Germany and Switzerland. Although he left behind the family farming and ranching business, he never forgot his roots and he planted many shade and fruit trees and an extensive vegetable garden. After some experimentation and tweaking, his delicious whole wheat bread recipe was widely shared -- baking Herman's bread has warmed the hearth of many homes over the years.
Herman was active in community affairs and made contributions as president of the PTA of Aspen Elementary School in Los Alamos, as well as work with the Girl and Boy Scouts and service on the board and as President of the United Way. He was active on many boards of the United Church of Los Alamos.
After moving to the La Vida Llena Lifecare Community (LVL), he frequently made the rounds at assisted living and healthcare where he visited and comforted those experiencing health problems.
Dr. Herman P. Deinken, 90, died peacefully at home in Albuquerque on Monday, December 7, 2009 surrounded by loved ones. Born on April 9, 1919 near Amistad, NM, Herman grew up on the Hattie Pearl and Joseph C. Deinken homestead in Union County and later obtained a degree in Agriculture/Animal Husbandry from Texas Tech. After the war, Herman returned to the U.S. but was not demobilized immediately in order to ferry new aircraft to various destinations around the country. He was stationed for a time at Love Field in Dallas, where he reconnected with Elizabeth Fonda MacWilliams (Betty). They had met at the First Presbyterian Church in Lubbock before the war, and were married on April 13, 1946. Motivated by a new perspective on the world and inspired by the challenges he faced as a pilot during the war, he plotted a new flight path and decided to pursue a career in the sciences instead of working in agriculture. Betty accompanied him as he returned to study and they began to realize their dream of having a large family, even while living in a cramped married student housing apartment. He obtained his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Texas and accepted a position at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (now LANL). Herman worked at "The Lab" from 1956 until his retirement in 1982, where he continued to serve his country in defense research and development. For many years he managed a group that coordinated closely with members of the armed services on joint programs. Dr. Deinken is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elizabeth MacWilliams Deinken (whom he affectionately called Betsy); and his children, John Deinken and wife, Noelle (Mammoth Lakes, CA), Anna Lucas and husband, Beau (Dallas, TX), Jane Northcutt and husband, Randy (Shreveport, LA), Peter Deinken and wife, Dulce (Dallas, TX) and Margaret Nickel and husband, Curtis (Fresno, CA). Herman was the proud grandparent to ten grandchildren and loved family gatherings and travel. He and his wife Betty were avid travelers early in retirement and they had notable trips to Alaska, Europe, China, Israel and Honduras. Herman became interested in genealogy and – with his typical meticulous attention to detail – made multiple trips to Salt Lake City to research historic civil and church records in pursuit of details on his ancestors from Germany and Switzerland. Although he left behind the family farming and ranching business, he never forgot his roots and he planted many shade and fruit trees and an extensive vegetable garden. After some experimentation and tweaking, his delicious whole wheat bread recipe was widely shared -- baking Herman's bread has warmed the hearth of many homes over the years.
Herman was active in community affairs and made contributions as president of the PTA of Aspen Elementary School in Los Alamos, as well as work with the Girl and Boy Scouts and service on the board and as President of the United Way. He was active on many boards of the United Church of Los Alamos.
After moving to the La Vida Llena Lifecare Community (LVL), he frequently made the rounds at assisted living and healthcare where he visited and comforted those experiencing health problems.
Herman Porter Deinken enlisted and served with distinction as a pilot in the Army Air Corps in WWII in the China/Burma/India Theater and continued to be active in the Air Force Reserve including service as Commander of the 9831st Reserve Squadron; he retired with the rank of Colonel in 1979. His military awards and recognition include the Air, Asiatic Pacific Service, American Theater Services, WWII Victory, & Armed Forces Reserve Medals as well as the Presidential Unit Citation and Distinguished Unit Badge. How fitting that this veteran passed on a day devoted to remembering Pearl Harbor and the brave men and women who rose to the challenge of fighting for freedom. He received numerous awards, including a certificate of appreciation from the Department of the Army for patriotic civilian service. He had a special talent for helping to groom military professionals to work effectively with civilian scientists on defense related programs.
Dr. Herman P. Deinken, 90, died peacefully at home in Albuquerque on Monday, December 7, 2009 surrounded by loved ones. Born on April 9, 1919 near Amistad, NM, Herman grew up on the Hattie Pearl and Joseph C. Deinken homestead in Union County and later obtained a degree in Agriculture/Animal Husbandry from Texas Tech. After the war, Herman returned to the U.S. but was not demobilized immediately in order to ferry new aircraft to various destinations around the country. He was stationed for a time at Love Field in Dallas, where he reconnected with Elizabeth Fonda MacWilliams (Betty). They had met at the First Presbyterian Church in Lubbock before the war, and were married on April 13, 1946. Motivated by a new perspective on the world and inspired by the challenges he faced as a pilot during the war, he plotted a new flight path and decided to pursue a career in the sciences instead of working in agriculture. Betty accompanied him as he returned to study and they began to realize their dream of having a large family, even while living in a cramped married student housing apartment. He obtained his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Texas and accepted a position at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (now LANL). Herman worked at "The Lab" from 1956 until his retirement in 1982, where he continued to serve his country in defense research and development. For many years he managed a group that coordinated closely with members of the armed services on joint programs. Dr. Deinken is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elizabeth MacWilliams Deinken (whom he affectionately called Betsy); and his children, John Deinken and wife, Noelle (Mammoth Lakes, CA), Anna Lucas and husband, Beau (Dallas, TX), Jane Northcutt and husband, Randy (Shreveport, LA), Peter Deinken and wife, Dulce (Dallas, TX) and Margaret Nickel and husband, Curtis (Fresno, CA). Herman was the proud grandparent to ten grandchildren and loved family gatherings and travel. He and his wife Betty were avid travelers early in retirement and they had notable trips to Alaska, Europe, China, Israel and Honduras. Herman became interested in genealogy and – with his typical meticulous attention to detail – made multiple trips to Salt Lake City to research historic civil and church records in pursuit of details on his ancestors from Germany and Switzerland. Although he left behind the family farming and ranching business, he never forgot his roots and he planted many shade and fruit trees and an extensive vegetable garden. After some experimentation and tweaking, his delicious whole wheat bread recipe was widely shared -- baking Herman's bread has warmed the hearth of many homes over the years.
Herman was active in community affairs and made contributions as president of the PTA of Aspen Elementary School in Los Alamos, as well as work with the Girl and Boy Scouts and service on the board and as President of the United Way. He was active on many boards of the United Church of Los Alamos.
After moving to the La Vida Llena Lifecare Community (LVL), he frequently made the rounds at assisted living and healthcare where he visited and comforted those experiencing health problems.
Dr. Herman P. Deinken, 90, died peacefully at home in Albuquerque on Monday, December 7, 2009 surrounded by loved ones. Born on April 9, 1919 near Amistad, NM, Herman grew up on the Hattie Pearl and Joseph C. Deinken homestead in Union County and later obtained a degree in Agriculture/Animal Husbandry from Texas Tech. After the war, Herman returned to the U.S. but was not demobilized immediately in order to ferry new aircraft to various destinations around the country. He was stationed for a time at Love Field in Dallas, where he reconnected with Elizabeth Fonda MacWilliams (Betty). They had met at the First Presbyterian Church in Lubbock before the war, and were married on April 13, 1946. Motivated by a new perspective on the world and inspired by the challenges he faced as a pilot during the war, he plotted a new flight path and decided to pursue a career in the sciences instead of working in agriculture. Betty accompanied him as he returned to study and they began to realize their dream of having a large family, even while living in a cramped married student housing apartment. He obtained his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Texas and accepted a position at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (now LANL). Herman worked at "The Lab" from 1956 until his retirement in 1982, where he continued to serve his country in defense research and development. For many years he managed a group that coordinated closely with members of the armed services on joint programs. Dr. Deinken is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elizabeth MacWilliams Deinken (whom he affectionately called Betsy); and his children, John Deinken and wife, Noelle (Mammoth Lakes, CA), Anna Lucas and husband, Beau (Dallas, TX), Jane Northcutt and husband, Randy (Shreveport, LA), Peter Deinken and wife, Dulce (Dallas, TX) and Margaret Nickel and husband, Curtis (Fresno, CA). Herman was the proud grandparent to ten grandchildren and loved family gatherings and travel. He and his wife Betty were avid travelers early in retirement and they had notable trips to Alaska, Europe, China, Israel and Honduras. Herman became interested in genealogy and – with his typical meticulous attention to detail – made multiple trips to Salt Lake City to research historic civil and church records in pursuit of details on his ancestors from Germany and Switzerland. Although he left behind the family farming and ranching business, he never forgot his roots and he planted many shade and fruit trees and an extensive vegetable garden. After some experimentation and tweaking, his delicious whole wheat bread recipe was widely shared -- baking Herman's bread has warmed the hearth of many homes over the years.
Herman was active in community affairs and made contributions as president of the PTA of Aspen Elementary School in Los Alamos, as well as work with the Girl and Boy Scouts and service on the board and as President of the United Way. He was active on many boards of the United Church of Los Alamos.
After moving to the La Vida Llena Lifecare Community (LVL), he frequently made the rounds at assisted living and healthcare where he visited and comforted those experiencing health problems.
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