Thomas Albert Diehl

DIEHL, PAYNE

Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 5/12/2017 at 14:58:01

Thomas Albert Diehl
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, August 12, 1951. Died in Iowa City, Iowa, May 7, 2017 after a brief illness.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife and soulmate of 45 years, Pamela Roberts, his cherished daughter, Alisa Diehl (husband Maurice Payne), and new grandson, Leo, his three siblings, John (Karyn), Sue (Howard), and Jim (Rob), his nephew Justin, and niece Andrea, aunts, many cousins and an untold number of friends. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Miriam Diehl.

Tom was a very invested father, who always took time to get to know Alisa’s friends as his own, and he was enthusiastic about his family and ever-expanding circle of friends.

Tom was a 1980 graduate of the University of Iowa (Phi Beta Kappa) with a degree in Spanish and certificate in Latin American Studies. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1983. Tom’s professional career included a clerkship with the United States District Court, Northern District of Iowa, 6 years in private practice, and 24 years as a Public Defender. He devoted his professional career to the art of trial advocacy (Mason Ladd Inn of Court) and the furtherance of justice. Tom’s life was characterized by his passionate commitment to fairness and equity.

Tom and Pam’s travels to Guatemala and Mexico in their early adult life produced Tom’s lifelong interest in language, foreign culture, archaeology, and history. He was a voracious reader, lover of music, and an effusive storyteller. Those in his life could attest to his legendary stories being told numerous, numerous times. Tom was an average cribbage player, recognizing his limitations but would never turn down a game.

Please join us in celebrating Tom’s life with a time of remembrance on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. at the Ned Ashton House, 820 Park Road, Iowa City (additional parking on Normandy Drive). Reception to follow.

Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
 

Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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