Deke Sonnichsen

Darrell (Deke) Carsten Sonnichsen was born in San Jose in 1931 and raised in Palo Alto, where his paternal grandparents had settled from Denmark in 1904. As a child, Deke helped his father Carsten and grandfather Laust at their Palo Alto Market, delivering groceries during World War II. He earned the nickname “The Deacon” in elementary school for his eloquent speeches during recess, which he later shortened to “Deke.” Deke graduated from Paly High in 1949 and attended Cal Poly.

Military Service and Personal Life:

In 1951, Deke enlisted in the U.S. Army and served three years with the 82nd Airborne Division. After his military service, he married Joanne Peterson in 1954, with whom he had a son, Kirk. Both Joanne and Kirk predeceased him.

Career at Lockheed and Contributions to Aerospace:

Deke worked as an engineering coordinator for Lockheed Missile & Space Company from 1959 to 1992, contributing significantly to various satellite projects.

Pioneering in Skydiving and Ballooning:

Deke was a trailblazer in both sport parachuting and hot air ballooning. In 1956, he founded the California Parachute Club, the first parachute club in the U.S. affiliated with the National Parachute Jumpers and Riggers. He was a member and team leader for the U.S. Parachute Team from 1957 to 1964 and served as President of the Parachute Club of America (now USPA) from 1963 to 1964.

Deke’s contributions to skydiving included working with the Security Parachute Company in 1963 to design, test, and produce a new parachute system that placed the reserve on the upper back. He made the first live test jump using this innovative system.

Achievements in Ballooning:

Deke set four world balloon records in 1966 and founded the WHAMOBASS Balloon Rally in 1965, which remains the oldest continuing balloon event in the world. He served as an FAA Balloon Examiner from 1967 to 2003 and was inducted into the National Balloon Museum’s Balloon Hall of Fame in 2007.

Honors and Community Involvement:

In 2019, Deke was inducted into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame. He was also a member of E Clampus Vitus and the Roxbourg Club, and served on the San Mateo County Historical Resources board. In the mid-1980s, Deke entertained crowds with anvil firing at Union Cemetery on Memorial Day and Fourth of July celebrations. Deke Sonnichsen’s legacy as a pioneer in both skydiving and ballooning, combined with his contributions to the aerospace industry and his community involvement, leave a lasting impact. His achievements and dedication to inspiring others in the sky will be remembered and celebrated.