Colonel John William (Bill) Dettmer

Retired USAF and longtime Albuquerque resident, passed away on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at the age of 86 from multiple injuries incurred in a motor vehicle accident. His wife of 60 years, Erin Lee (Kip) Dettmer, as well as his children, Christine Trapp (husband Tim), Kathy Howington (husband Dan), Ross Dettmer (wife Anne), and Beth Dettmer (husband Georges Azzie), will lovingly remember him as the devoted and strong patriarch of their close-knit family. Bill will also be greatly missed by his grandchildren Jordan (fiancée Emily), Geoff (fiancée Alejandra), Mack (partner Isabel), Cameron (partner Sage), Austin, Michael, Katie, Lily, Simone, and Gabriel. His caring family also includes step-grandchildren Garrett, Blake, and Kasey. Bill was born on September 27, 1935, to Roy and Betty Dettmer in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents and his three younger siblings, Bob, Betty, and Roy.

He graduated from the University of Cincinnati (Go Bengals!) in 1956 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Later he obtained a Masters in the same field and a PhD in Physics.  He was in the Air Force for over twenty-nine years, during which he flew fifteen different types of airplanes, served in the Vietnam War, and received numerous medals and awards including the Legion of Merit and a Bronze Star. One of his major accomplishments while working for the Air Force was his work on the Airborne Laser Lab and laser weapon systems research as part of the “Star Wars” Initiative.

After retiring from the Air Force, Bill went to law school for a year and then was wooed away to establish an Albuquerque office for Lockheed Martin. He retired from Lockheed Martin in 1997, and he and Kip traveled the world and amped up their RV US adventures.  He continued to enjoy water and downhill skiing, hiking, reading, and collecting the newest electronic devices.

In recent years, he was an active member of the Professional Aerospace Contractor’s Association (PACA) of NM (an organization he was passionate about), the Chair of the NM Museum of Space History, and a commissioner of the committee charged with the development of the Spaceport. Bill and Kip were also active members of, and lectors at, the Shrine of St. Bernadette Catholic Church.

Over the last few years, he also penned his autobiography as a gift to his grandchildren.  It includes the following thoughts on his life and legacy: “I did not set out to change the world or make a fortune. My goal was to enjoy the life my creator gave to me and do the best I could. My enjoyment led to a life of variety and a family I can be proud of. As I look back on my life, I believe I have met my goal. I have enjoyed life ....I’ve been blessed with a wonderful wife through the good times and the challenging times. We have done a lot and seen a lot together. We were a winning team.”

Visitation and Prayers will be held Thursday, February 10, 2022, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at French Funeral Home, 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE. (Tentative Schedule: 4 p.m. Visitation, 4:40 p.m. Eulogy, 5 p.m. Prayers).  For those who cannot attend in person, a virtual link ( click here to join ) will allow you to join the service from 4:40 p.m. on.

The Funeral Mass will be held Friday, February 11, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at the Shrine of St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 11509 Indian School Rd. NE., followed by a reception at 11 a.m. in the church hall. For those who cannot attend in person, you can join the Mass 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. via the virtual link ( click here to join ).

Interment will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers , please consider a donation in Bill’s name to the Shrine of St. Bernadette Catholic Church (at the address above or through its website ) or to PACA of NM to fund a Science and Technology Scholarship (write checks to “PACA" and mail to c/o David Rosprim, 3037 La Mancha Ct. NW, Albuquerque, NM. 87104).