COCOA -- Derek (Deke) James Coetzee, 65, of Cocoa, a NACE Corrosion Inspector for GSI, died Saturday,August 17, 2002. Derek was born in Benoni, South Africa. He was very proud of his naturalization as a citizen of the United States of America on June 16, 1986. He served in the South African Navy at an early age. His career then started as a sheet metal worker with Atlas Aircraft prior to working for Pan Am as Air/Refrigeration mechanic and then into management as Production Control Foreman, Complex Supervisor at NASA Industrial Support for Johnson Controls, and Facilities Systems Superintendent at Antigua Air Station for CSR. A total of 33 years of experience in operations and management of various military launch base and tracking stations, such as Pretoria, Eleuthera, Grand Turk, Seychelles, GBI Bahamas, Ascension and Antigua. Deke will be truly missed by us all. We loved listening of his many travels to the down range islands. Experiences of fishing, hunting, golfing, diving, riding motorcycles, building clubhouses, landscaping, or just what-ever, and mostly his sense of humor. CHEERS..... He is survived by his wife, Barbara; sons, Mark of South Africa, Lee of Orlando and Garrett of Boca Raton; stepdaughter, Donna Moates of Cocoa; grandson, James Eric Lee of South Africa; and step granddaughter, Kami A. Moates of Cocoa. Deke was preceded in death by his sisters, Susan, Gwendolyn, Mavis and Yvonne. Deke's family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, August 22nd, at the Cocoa Elks Lodge #1532, located at 315 Florida Avenue, with a service in celebration of his life to be held at 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Florida Elks Youth Camp c/o Cocoa Elks Lodge #1532, 315 Florida Avenue, Cocoa, FL 32926. Arrangements entrusted to Wylie-Baxley RockledgeFuneral Home.
COCOA -- Derek (Deke) James Coetzee, 65, of Cocoa, a NACE Corrosion Inspector for GSI, died Saturday,August 17, 2002. Derek was born in Benoni, South Africa. He was very proud of his naturalization as a citizen of the United States of America on June 16, 1986. He served in the South African Navy at an early age. His career then started as a sheet metal worker with Atlas Aircraft prior to working for Pan Am as Air/Refrigeration mechanic and then into management as Production Control Foreman, Complex Supervisor at NASA Industrial Support for Johnson Controls, and Facilities Systems Superintendent at Antigua Air Station for CSR. A total of 33 years of experience in operations and management of various military launch base and tracking stations, such as Pretoria, Eleuthera, Grand Turk, Seychelles, GBI Bahamas, Ascension and Antigua. Deke will be truly missed by us all. We loved listening of his many travels to the down range islands. Experiences of fishing, hunting, golfing, diving, riding motorcycles, building clubhouses, landscaping, or just what-ever, and mostly his sense of humor. CHEERS..... He is survived by his wife, Barbara; sons, Mark of South Africa, Lee of Orlando and Garrett of Boca Raton; stepdaughter, Donna Moates of Cocoa; grandson, James Eric Lee of South Africa; and step granddaughter, Kami A. Moates of Cocoa. Deke was preceded in death by his sisters, Susan, Gwendolyn, Mavis and Yvonne. Deke's family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, August 22nd, at the Cocoa Elks Lodge #1532, located at 315 Florida Avenue, with a service in celebration of his life to be held at 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Florida Elks Youth Camp c/o Cocoa Elks Lodge #1532, 315 Florida Avenue, Cocoa, FL 32926. Arrangements entrusted to Wylie-Baxley RockledgeFuneral Home.
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