Deanna Doris Deuel Lesku passed away on Friday, October 21, 2022 at Redwood Memorial Hospital. She was born on August 7, 1943 in Arcata to Francis and Elina Deuel.

Deanna attended Stewart Elementary, Arcata High School and Humboldt State University. She graduated from HSU in 1966 with a degree in Education. She began her teaching career at Dow’s Prairie in McKinleyville and retired in 2002 from Ferndale Elementary after 36 years of teaching. She taught at Ferndale for 33 years. During these years she taught first, second and third grades.

She had a passion for teaching. She brought her own flair to her style of teaching. She was the original Miss Frizzle. She dressed to match her curriculum and made learning fun in her classroom. She had a lollipop tree for spelling, crocheted Christmas stockings for each child every year and made many other crafty items for her students. She will be forever known as the Flamingo Lady. After her retirement, she continued to help in the schools by substituting, reading to various classes, helping in her daughter’s classroom and reading at the Fortuna Library.

Deanna was always involved with her church, whether it was as church secretary, President of the women’s group, teaching Sunday School or serving on the Church Council. She was a loyal member of Christ Lutheran Church in Fortuna.

Deanna married the love of her life, Laszlo Lesku, on June 8, 1968. They enjoyed many happy years together until his death in 2014. Her devoted daughter Erika was born in 1971. Deanna and Erika spent many happy times together traveling, shopping and other adventures. She was the most loving and devoted mom to her daughter.

Deanna was very crafty and loved to share her talent with others. She was always making pins or crocheting something. She loved to give these treasures to others to uplift them. She continued her crafts up until a few weeks before she passed in spite of her physical limitations.

Deanna was preceded in death by her parents Francis and Elina Deuel and her beloved husband Laszlo. She is survived by her daughter Erika, son-in-law Demetrius Williams and granddaughters Kaelyn, Aaliyah and Jasmine Williams. She also leaves behind her brother Darrel Deuel and his wife Janet, her niece Jamie Eisenbeisz (Tim) and nephews Dan Deuel (Miriam) and Darren Deuel (Candace) and her great nieces and nephews Tori, David, Cody, Emily, Justin, Tatum, Peyton, Josie, Isaac, Christopher and AiLan. She also leaves behind special friends Pat, Dottie, Ilene, Pam and Corinne.

There will be a private burial at Ocean View Cemetery and a memorial service on Friday, October 28 at 1 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Fortuna. Deanna loved bright colors and dressing for every holiday, so if you attend please dress in some way that honors her sense of style, even if it is wearing something crafty she made you.

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Redwood Memorial Hospital for their great care, Dr. Tamara Douglass for her years of care and her caregiver Mary Murphy.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Deanna Lesku’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.