Ivan Earl Deatsch
March 11, 1946 – January 4, 2023
Ivan was born in Martensdale, Iowa, on March 11, 1946, and passed away at home with his family on January 4, 2023. He grew up on a farm in Indianola, IA. Ivan was the eighth of nine children. His strong work ethic was rooted in daily chores of picking corn and milking cows by hand.
After graduating from the University of Iowa, he started a 42-year career with Bridgestone Firestone in 1968. His career in finance moved him to many places, including Moline, IL and Chicago, IL; Des Moines, IA; Omaha, NE; Medina, OH; Chicago, IL, and Edmond, Oklahoma.
Ivan married Marita Powers on June 20, 1970. They had four children and 10 grandchildren. Ivan and Marita shared their faith through bible studies, marriage encounter weekends, and a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. They enjoyed many adventures together like hiking the Grand Canyon, river cruising in France and bicycle tours in Vietnam, Austria, Italy, Vermont, Canadian Rockies and many others.
Ivan was a lifelong Catholic and a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond, Oklahoma. His 76 years of life were filled with family vacations, biking and hiking mountains. His volunteer passions included United Way, weekly perpetual adoration and driving seniors to doctor appointments. He cheered for Iowa Hawkeyes, Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys and Thunder Basketball.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Marita; children Jennifer Seaton of Edmond, Oklahoma, David (Wendy) Deatsch of Edmond, Oklahoma, Michael (Lindsey) Deatsch of Oklahoma City, and Katie (Justin) Evans of San Diego, California; four siblings: Ronnie (JoAnn) Deatsch, Rosalie Gedler, John Deatsch and Judy (Bill) Gilliam; and 10 grandchildren: Nathan, Hannah, Rebecca, Emily, Matthew, Aubrey, Gabriel, Ivan, Camille and Otto and many beloved nieces and nephews.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, Firmin and Martha, and brothers Joe, Elmer, Bill and Gene.
A public viewing will be at Matthews Funeral Home on Friday, January 13 from 4-8 p.m., family will be present from 5-7 p.m. with a wake beginning at 6 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 14 followed by a celebration of life at Prairie at Post Meeting House, 9246 Farmhouse Lane, Arcadia, OK until 6pm. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Catholic Charities Women’s Sanctuary in Oklahoma City.
We will be live streaming this service in an effort to accommodate those people that wish to attend but are not able to. To watch the service please follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1DjrpMZIi0