Dietrich Emiehl "Deke" Volkland

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Dietrich Emiehl "Deke" Volkland, age 51, formerly of Nevada, passed away Jan. 11.

He was a graduate of Nevada High School in 1983. He went on to serve five years in the U.S. Navy stationed in Adak, Alaska, and aboard the aircraft carriers USS Independence and USS Constellation during Desert Shield. He received his BA from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1994.

Dietrich felt a great affinity with his Native American heritage. He was actively involved in the American Indian Student Association, and enjoyed his leadership role in the campus Native American community, including peer counseling, reviewing articles for publication, and developing the UCLA Pow Wows. He was an Eagle Scout, a major sports fan (especially the Premier League), a voracious reader, an amazing editor, and an expert video developer. He put those skills to use in career positions with Western Digital and Boeing, but mostly loved creating videos honoring his daughters' accomplishments and special celebrations. Dietrich loved camping, poetry, and music -- a passion rooted in his days as a KNEM (Nevada) DJ.

Dietrich married Leigh Ann (Mowry), also formerly of Nevada, in 1990 at the United Methodist Church. They were married for 25 years.

He is preceded in death by his father, Scott Gmur of Lancaster, Calif.; and his grandmother, Effie Volkland of Nevada. He is survived by his daughters, Hannah M. and Molly K. Volkland; his mother, Jacqueline (Volkland) Gmur; brothers Arthur, Edward and Michael Gmur; sisters Clare Gmur and Vera (Gmur) Sayegh; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Newton Cemetery on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 1 p.m., followed by a celebration of life gathering at the Elk's Lodge beginning at 2 p.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Dietrich's name to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or to Wounded Warriors Project.