Darrel Deane Carlberg, Jr

Deane's great-grandparents John Carlberg emigrated from Eksharad, Sweden in 1860, married Lena Eng, also from Sweden and settled in Iowa. The Carlberg line continued in Iowa until Deane was born in Jacksonville, Florida. His father Darrell Deane was a Gunner's Mate in the Navy who traveled much of the world. He spent time on Johnston Island, halfway between Hawaii and Equator "between nowhere and somewhere!"

In the US, Deane and his family moved from one base to another. He attended over ten different schools, was a Virginia Pilot paperboy, worked in Harold's Pharmacy and Old Dominion Library. He earned his Bachelor in Science from Old Dominion University. He continued to work with the City of Norfolk Water Works and Newport News Ship Building in Virgina. Taking the plunge, he moved to Oklahoma and Tinker Air Force Base where he worked as a chemist. Deane and Becky, his wife of 46 years, met in Midwest City. Their oldest son Devin was born in Oklahoma City.

When a position opened up in England, he and his family moved to Lidgate, Suffolk in East Anglia. His youngest son Cailean was born at Lakenheath RAF. Deane worked in the RAF Mildenhall Fuels lab from 1983-1988 analyzing the SR-71 fuels. The family returned back to Oklahoma where Deane worked in the Tinker AFB Environmental Lab from 1988-1997. A new opportunity opened up overseas, so he took the job as Sr. Chemist of the Landstuhl Germany Environmental Lab 1997-2003. Back to Tinker AFB Industrial Lab, Deane was supervisor from 2003-2018. While at Tinker, he earned his Masters Degree in Environmental Science from the University of Oklahoma.

During both stints in Europe the family traveled whenever they had the chance. In England they visited almost every castle as well as Stonehenge and other relics. While living in Germany, they went on Volksmarches nearly every weekend (totaling 3,000 kilometers)!

After retiring from Tinker, Deane and Becky started BEC Science Solutions. In 2018 Deane became Adjunct Professor of Environmental Science and Chemistry at Rose State College. He worked until February of 2024 when health issues began to loom.

Deane was a member of the American Chemical Society, Co-President of the Deep Fork Audubon Society and Coordinator of the Oklahoma Master Naturalists. He was an avid reader of history and the sciences. Loved listening to classical music, photography and riding bikes, often with his sons (over 7,000 miles the last 3 years). His first bike love was his yellow 1972 Schwinn Continental. Gravel adventures happened from Outer Banks all the way to Shawnee OK. Deane has ridden Tulsa Tough (three day cycling festival in Tulsa), Cycle for Life (Cystic Fibrosis) in Tulsa, and many roads where he lived on his Specialized bicycle.

Deane was preceded in death by his mom, Vera Huseman and father Darrel Carlberg. He is survived by his wife and sons, two grandchildren Aiden and Sage, sister Deb, brothers Dave and Doug, five nephews, four nieces, plus so many special friends in England. He and Becky met Tom at a German class in Bury St. Edmunds. They became friends for life. Ann and Ian Roe and family also lived in the same village of Lidgate. Their friendship continued even when the Roes moved to Wales and the Carlbergs moved to Oklahoma.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 2pm to 4pm at Vortex Alley, located at 313 E Main Street in Shawnee. Arrangements are under the direction of McElyea & Owens Funeral Group of Shawnee.

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