Thomas Lynn Diefenbaugh

Thomas L. Diefenbaugh

July 27, 1946 – November 20, 2025

Tom Diefenbaugh passed away into the loving arms of Jesus on November 20th, 2025. Anyone who knew him will most likely remember him for his quiet life of service to others. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and community. He truly embraced the simplicity of faith in Jesus and would hope that anyone reading would take the same step in their own life.

Thomas Lynn Diefenbaugh was born on July 27th, 1946, in Ventura, California. He was the oldest of five children and described himself as a pretty shy kid. Growing up, he enjoyed playing football, surfing in Southern California (while listening to the Beach Boys, of course), spending his allowance on RC Cola and M&Ms, and going to his grandparents' house for patio BBQs. After high school, he went to Loyola University for a short time where he studied Civil Engineering. When he was 20, he met Kathleen Burnett while she was driving around the university scouting out cute boys and she spotted Tom. They were wed on July 30th, 1966, and were married for 57 years before her passing in 2023. In 1971, Tom and Kathy had the gospel shared with them at their door by a couple with a local church outreach in Southern California. Kathy accepted Jesus as her savior through that encounter, but Tom described needing a little more time to think about it. He recalled a hunting trip where he tried so hard to do all the right things to get the shot but couldn't even keep his feet quiet in the woods. He said he realized that this correlated to his own life and how he tried so hard to do all the right things but ultimately found he could never do everything perfectly and needed the grace of Jesus. That simple act of faith impacted him and Kathy for the rest of their lives.

They eventually moved their family to North Bend, Oregon where Tom retired from a career as a delivery driver to become a general contractor. He and Kathy had four children. He loved being their dad and was always a wonderful provider for their family. He loved fishing and boating, coaching his kids' soccer teams, hunting, and his volunteer work. Between 1993 and 2025, he went on many, many ministry trips, including taking teens to build and serve at orphanages in Mexico, service trips to Honduras and Cambodia, revitalizing a hospital in Nigeria, flood relief and church construction projects multiple times in Alaska, and hurricane relief construction on an island in the Caribbean called Barbuda. Six of these trips were with Samaritan's Purse International Relief, and others were through his church at Skyline Baptist. He also served with Medical Equipment Supplies and Aid (MESA) for 18 years helping to get medical supplies into 15 African countries, impacting over 4 million people. Locally, he was a beloved AWANA game director for 45 years, he built homes in Coos Bay through Habitat for Humanity, and he volunteered at the Coos County S.T.E.P. fish hatcheries. He was known by so many as an extremely hard worker who just never ran out of energy and enjoyed a little competition!

He was beloved for his service, but also beloved by his grandkids and great grandkids who called him Papa Duck (or Ducky) for his impressions of Donald Duck. He loved taking them on "park tours" at different local parks all day and baking them his famous raisin bread. He was a selfless volunteer, a devoted husband of 57 years, a beloved dad, grandpa, great- grandpa, and friend. He is now reunited in Heaven with his dear wife Kathy, and they are rejoicing with Jesus. Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen Diefenbaugh, grandson, Alec Diefenbaugh,great-grandchildren, Israel and Ember Ward, and his parents, Ardith and Don Diefenbaugh. He is dearly missed by his children, Kristen DeAndrea and husband David, Paul Diefenbaugh and wife Samantha, Scott Diefenbaugh and wife Megan, and Aimee MacHugh and husband Bill, along with his 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He is survived by his brothers, David Diefenbaugh and Tim Diefenbaugh, and his sisters, Debbie Watts and Michelle Webb.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 24th, at 2pm at Skyline Baptist Church (3451 Liberty Street, North Bend, OR 97459) for anyone who would like to attend.

Friends and family are encouraged to sign the online guestbook at www.coosbayareafunerals.com. Arrangements are under the care of North Bend Chapel, 541-756-0440.