Derek Kenneth Thieme

Derek Kenneth Thieme passed away peacefully on November 27, 2024 surrounded by his devoted family and friends. He was 37. Born September 9, 1987 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Susan (Ford) Thieme and Kenneth D. Thieme, Derek spent his childhood joyfully exploring the outdoors and mastering card games such as Euchre - pastimes he continued to treasure throughout his life. Some of his most cherished memories involved spending time at his grandparents’ home in Decatur, Indiana, where he helped his grandfather build a cabin that still stands today. During high school, he nurtured his passion for nature and adventure through school-sponsored camping and canoeing trips to the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota. He later graduated from Homestead High School in 2006. Derek earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 2009. While in college, he studied abroad in both New Zealand and India, embracing his adventurous spirit with experiences like skydiving in New Zealand. Continuing his academic pursuits, Derek attended a prestigious fellowship program at George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia, earning his Master’s in Economics in 2013. He then embarked on a professionally fulfilling 11-year career as an economist at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. In 2012, during his final semester of graduate school, Derek met the love of his life, Janine, at a mutual friend’s New Year’s Eve party. They quickly discovered the extraordinary connection between them and married on September 25, 2016, after three and a half joyful years together. Throughout their relationship, Derek and Janine shared a love of traveling, hiking, and creating a vibrant life surrounded by family and friends. In 2020 they welcomed their son, Theodore Carl (“Theo”), their greatest blessing. Two and a half years later, their blessings grew with the arrival of their daughter, Josephine Rose. Six months after their engagement, Derek was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Following a successful surgery and round of treatment, Derek and Janine were blessed with clear and stable scans and excellent health for many years afterwards. In April 2023 they discovered that the tumor had returned. After a difficult 18-month battle - including two additional craniotomies, treatment, and rehabilitation - Derek went home to God. Derek’s unwavering strength, kindness, humor, and deep gratitude for the love and blessings in his life remained constant through every challenge. Not long before his passing, he repeatedly told Janine, “I’m so blessed. I’m so lucky.” His profound faith in God and dedication to bettering himself and the world around him set a lasting example for all who knew him. Ask anyone who knew Derek, and they will tell you he had the most infectious and joyous laugh - the kind that filled the room with happiness. His silly sense of humor ranged from being the quintessential “fun dad” to Theo and Josephine, to crafting nonsensical Spanish puns with his sister, Megan. His determination and drive to achieve his goals were evident in every aspect of his life, including his completion of four marathons and one half-marathon. Above all, Derek was a devoted husband to Janine and the best father to Theo and Josephine, showering them all with boundless and enduring love. Though his time with Theo and Josephine was far too brief, he imparted to them his insatiable curiosity, adventurous spirit, his love and thoughtfulness towards others and the world around him, and the most wonderful and goofy sense of humor. Derek will forever be the brightest star in the skies of those who loved him. He is deeply and immeasurably loved and profoundly missed. May his memory be eternal. Derek is survived by his beloved wife, Janine Bakalis Thieme, his son Theodore (4), and his daughter Josephine (2). He is also survived by his devoted parents, Susan and Kenneth Thieme; his sister Megan (Stuart) Chmielewski; his nieces, Vera and Audrey Chmielewski, his grandmother, Elaine Thieme, his in-laws, and his many aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friends. The viewing will be held at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, located at 2815 36th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007 on Monday, December 9, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Internment following the service will take place at 1:30 p.m. at Stonewall Memory Gardens, located at 12004 Lee Hwy, Manassas, VA 20109. Luncheon to follow at Giorgio’s Family Restaurant, located at 4394 Kevin Walker Dr., Montclair, VA 22025. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Theo and Josephine’s VA 529 college fund. The information for donations is listed below: https://www.virginia529.com Theodore Gift ID: 18YK91S Josephine Gift ID: 66MJO76

Derek Kenneth Thieme

September 9, 1987 - November 27, 2024