Gregory Paul Deitsch, 71, of Colfax, Indiana, passed away July 21, 2022 at IU Health Arnett Hospital in Lafayette, Indiana. He was born on February 8, 1951 in Cincinnati, Ohio to the late Raymond H. Deitsch and Rita Mary (Pieper) Deitsch. He married Tamra Wagner on April 12, 2013 in Colfax and she survives.
Greg was a 1969 graduate of Elder High School in Cincinnati. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1969 to 1972 in Vietnam earning the rank of Sergeant. Greg was a truck driver and worked for Cherin Transportation for 25 years. He was a member of Colfax Tabernacle Fellowship and loves the mountains and traveling out West.
Visitation and Services
Friends may visit from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, July 29, 2022 at Archer-Weston Funeral & Cremation Center, 501 East Clinton Street, Frankfort. A private family service will be held. Burial will be in Bunnell Cemetery.
Survived by:
Wife: Tamra Deitsch of Colfax, Sons: Shane (Kristy) Deitsch of Trenton, OH, Joshua (Sarah) Deitsch of Saginaw, MI, Marc (Erin) Deitsch of Cicero, IN, Jason Deitsch of Whitesboro, TX, Step-Sons: Charles Minnix of Thorntown, IN, Rodney (Alisha) Minnix of Mulberry, IN, Matthew (Sandra) Schocke of Colfax, IN, Brothers: Steve (Phyllis) Deitsch of Florida, Tom (Carla) Deitsch of Cincinnati, OH, Ed (Laura) Deitsch of Cincinnati, OH, John (Pam) Deitsch of Utah, Grandchildren: Nathan, Taylor, Grayson, McKenzie, Jacob, Brooks, Cameron, Joseph, Creed, Charlie Ann, Cohen, and Corallyne, Aurora, Jacob, Lily, Kinidi, Pryce, Makynzie, Paizley, Felisha, Taylor, Hayden, Trinity, Maddalynn and Mason and Great Grandchildren: Luna, Nox, Atlas and Paislee.
Preceded by:
his parents, sister: Teresa Deitsch, step-son: Frank Schocke II and his first wife, Deborah Deitsch who passed on July 14, 2011.
We are grateful you touched our lives and the lives of those we love-thanks Greg – we owe ya! Karl and Penny
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThank you Greg for all the fun hockey trip memories!! I’ll always remember with a smile!! Semper Fi Marine!!!
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Facebook Twitter GoogleI’m grateful to have known and worked with Greg for the last 20 years, he was one of the hardest workers I have ever known. I’m sure going miss our chats on Saturdays Greg. My thoughts and prayers are with his family may god ease your pain over the days to come just know Greg is no longer In pain and is finally at rest
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Facebook Twitter GoogleTo those who did not know him, Greg appeared to be a hard man to approach. However, we have known Greg for the past 45 plus years to be a man who worked hard, laughed often and loved his family with all that he had. I am blessed to have known you. RIP my dear friend…
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Facebook Twitter GoogleOur deepest sympathies to all of you. Sending love and prayers.
Kristine and Joseph Locall
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Facebook Twitter GoogleGreg was a good friend for many years, all drivers liked greg. He will be missed. He is one of a kind…God bless Greg and his. Family. Jim cline..cline trucking
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Facebook Twitter GoogleYou will never be forgotten ❤️ Enjoyed working with you at Purity Wholesale Grocery …you made my job easier we laughed daily at each other and the many times we just vented… You my friend , the true definition of a good man..
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Facebook Twitter GoogleI first met Greg in 1990 when I was coaching the Indy Racers Squirt Minor youth ice hockey team out of Carmel and he was coaching the Indy Wings Squirt Minor team out of the Coliseum. Our teams consisted of 10-year-old players and competed against each other and other AAA teams from Canada, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio in the prestigious Michigan National Hockey League.
At the end of the 1990 MNHL hockey season, Greg and I determined that we would co-coach a team under the name of the Midwest Express to compete in the April, 1991 Sam Pastor/Pepsi Invitational in Buffalo, NY. A March 13, 1991 article from The Buffalo News described that the tournament would involve “6,000 players from 330 teams representing the U.S. and Canada.” Our team, composed of five players from Greg’s Wings team, including Greg’s twins, Marc and Jason, five players from my Racers team, including my son, Adam, and a goalie from Detroit’s Little Caesars team, swept the competition and ended up as champions of the Squirt division.
Our success in Buffalo resulted in the determination that rather than compete against each other, Greg and I would co-coach stronger teams to compete in the MNHL. In the 1991-92 season, we coached the Indy Racers Squirt Major team to a win-loss-tie record of 23-10-3. In the 1992-93 season, we coached the Indy Racers Pee Wee Minor team to a win-loss-tie record of 24-10-2. In the 1993-94 season, we coached the Indy Amateur Ice team (with 1980 birth-year players) to a win-loss-tie record of 12-9-7.
Marc, Jason and Adam were teammates on all of those teams and were at one time or another joined by other teammates from Russia, Latvia, Los Angeles, Detroit, Cincinnati, Fort Wayne, Evansville and Indianapolis – including John-Michael Liles, a defenseman coached by Greg, who would go on to have a highly successful career in the National Hockey League and Alexander Riazantsev, a defenseman coached by Greg, who would go on to have a highly successful career in the Soviet Kontinental Hockey League.
I know that Greg was also very proud of the fact that both Marc and Jason would go on to play professional hockey and that one of our goalies, Edgars Masalskis, would go on to having a highly successful career in the Soviet Kontinental Hockey League and playing for Latvia in twelve World Hockey Championships and four Olympics.
The highly competitive MNHL required our teams to be well-prepared to compete and we would hold practices on three evenings during the week and then play in multiple games on the weekends. I know that Greg would fondly remember that we obtained the privilege of essentially having our own private rink and locker room at the Ellenberger Park skating rink with pretty much unlimited ice time.
I expect that like all of us, Greg did not appreciate as much the fact that, given the cost and time commitment, participation in the MNHL required our teams to frequently travel to Detroit and other cities for a weekend. Those weekends together did however give our families a great opportunity to learn more about each other and to develop a strong spirit of camaraderie between us.
In closing, I will always remember Greg as a strong, tough guy with a soft heart and caring spirit. Although ice hockey is a very tough sport and competitive spirits run high during games, I can never recall a time when either of us said a harsh word to the other.
It is sad that Greg’s life ended too soon. He will always have a special place in the hearts of me and my family and our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.
Bob York
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Facebook Twitter GoogleOur deepest condolences to Tamra, Shane, Josh, Marc and Jason and all the family. Also to Tom and all Greg’s brothers and their families. From the Weinkam family,Bill and Jan, Sheila and Eric.. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Eternal rest grant unto him oh Lord and may Your perpetual light shine upon him, Amen. From one old sailor to a good old jar head—Semper Fi Greg !
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Facebook Twitter GoogleCoach Deitsch was the absolute best. Will always hold a special place in my heart. Wonderful man, wonderful family. Rest In Peace.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleMy deepest sympathies to the Family! I knew Greg for most of my through Debbie, who was a close Family friend. I admired him as both father and husband, not an easy man to get close to, but worth the effort. He will be missed. Altiora Brother!
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