Thomas Wheeler Deem

1972 - 2025

Thomas Wheeler Deem

December 3, 1972 - November 15, 2025

Seattle, Washington - Tom Deem passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 15, 2025, age 52 years. The loss of this tall gentle man and father is mourned by his entire family. His imaginative and kind humor warmed the hearts of everyone who got to know him. Tom was born in Seattle, first child of Clark Wheeler Deem and Shirley Ruth (Klemp) Deem. From birth Tom was outdoors carried in a backpack, then racing Big Wheels, clam digging, Boy Scouts, baseball, hiking, skiing. He enjoyed running trails along Lake Washington and loved coaching baseball for his boys. His brother Ken was born when Tom was 3 and brother Andrew when he was 16. He graduated from Charles Wright Academy '91 in Tacoma and then went to St. Louis, graduated Washington Univ. '95 with a BA in English Literature, and later attended McGeorge School of Law. After college, Tom worked in Seattle where he met Melissa Baerwald and the two travelled and lived in Paris and San Francisco, returning to Seattle where they married in 2007. They have two sons, Viggo and Leo Deem. Tom loved and cared for his boys. His marriage to Melissa eventually ended, but he remained in Seattle. He worked primarily as a paralegal and in sales of software and real estate. Tom is survived by his sons Viggo and Leo, mother Shirley, father Clark (Julie), brother Ken (Alison), half brother Andrew (Deven), and step sister Heather (Jeremy), extended family and friends, who all miss his energy, laugh and smile. Rest in peace Tom. Memorial is February 7th 11 a.m. at Charles Wright Academy Chapel.