George R. “Mike” Deshler, age 95, a longtime resident of Tewksbury and retired member of the Tewksbury Department of Public Works, passed away at the Lowell General Hospital-Saints Campus on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, following a period of declining health.
He was the beloved husband of Dorothy E. (McNeice) Deshler, who passed away on December 26, 2018.
Born in Cambridge on June 22, 1930, he was the son of the late David W. Deshler and the late Mabel A. (Aylward)(Deshler) Lightfoot.
“Mike” was raised by his single mother and the Aylward family on Pearl Street in Somerville and attended Somerville schools.
In 1946, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served until being honorably discharged from active duty on January 14, 1948.
Prior to retiring, “Mike” worked for 25 years as a member of the Tewksbury D.P.W. and was previously employed by Teamster’s Local # 25 as a truck driver.
He was a long-standing member of the American Legion, V.F.W, and the Tewksbury-Wilmington Elks.
“Mike” was awarded the Elk of the Year for his dedication and commitment to helping young children. He would often dress as Santa’s elf, a circus clown and various other characters to humor and entertain the inflicted.
"Mike" enjoyed vacationing at Hampton Beach, writing poetry and music, playing the ukelele and guitar, as well as singing and dancing.
He is survived by his five children, Linda Deshler Burks, of Rochester, NH, Michael “Mickey” Deshler and his wife Teresa, of Lowell, Richard Deshler and his wife MaryAnn, of Tewksbury, Jean Casazza and her husband William, of Fremont, NH, and Joan Shufelt and her husband Mark, of Salem, NH: his grandchildren, Michael Deshler, Jr. and his wife Carolynn and their children, Coralee and Quinnlan; Bryan Deshler and his wife Lindsay, and their children, Delia, Aurora, Maeve and Emerson; Tyler Deshler, Nicole Deshler, Jonathan Deshler and his wife Carly, Stephen Casazza, Jill Casazza and her husband Andrew Helinski, Gregg Casazza, Allison Shufelt and her husband Benjamin Hon, and Sarah Shufelt.
Mike was the brother of Ernest “Ernie” Lightfoot and his wife Patricia, John “Jack” Lighfoot, Jo-Ann Lighfoot, James “Jimmy” Lightfoot and his wife Dotty-Ann and the late David W. Deshler.
He leaves many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and numerous extended family members and friends.
Calling hours are Thursday, October 9, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. with a prayer service to begin at 4 p.m. in the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee Street, Tewksbury. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Tewksbury Community Pantry, 999 Whipple Road, Tewksbury, MA 01876 or online at www.tewksburypantry.org