Dieken Wayne Cawley

Surrounded by his immediate family who loved him dearly, Dieken Wayne Cawley, 44, passed away Tuesday, November 18, 2025, after bravely facing cystic fibrosis throughout his life. Born August 9, 1981, he was the cherished son of Ada Burke and the late Gary Cawley, and was one of the kindest, funniest and most compassionate people who touched the lives of so many. Dieken graduated from Firelands High School in 1999, where he constantly left people in awe of his ability to beat the odds despite his cystic fibrosis diagnosis. Whether he was taking the field with the football team, running laps at track meets, or swinging for the fences during baseball practice, he never backed down from a challenge. Off the field, Dieken was as cheeky and charming as they come, armed with a smile and a set of eyelashes he knew exactly how to use, often getting himself into trouble and then right back out of it. In 2018, Dieken and his family received the phone call that their long wait on the transplant list was finally over and that he was about to receive the world's greatest gift, a new set of lungs and a second chance to live a life that wasn't restrictive. If you ask his family things that they are thankful for, his organ donor will always sit at the top of the list. After a successful surgery March 9, 2018, at Cleveland Clinic, Dieken woke up ready to 'motor up,' quite literally. Over the six incredible years that his new lungs gave him, he prepped dozens of demolition derby cars for race day, rode his quad with his neighborhood crew, and worked on more cars than his family and friends could ever count. He is survived by his mother, Ada Burke; his Nana, Patricia Cawley; his sisters, Nichole Cawley Dugan and Maggie Burke; his brothers, Tyson Cawley and Robert Cawley; his brother-in-law, Robert Dugan; and his sister-in-law, Amber Cawley. He is also survived by his nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and his two beloved dogs, Mia and Harley. He was preceded in death by his father, Gary Cawley; his grandmother, Laura Jones; his grandfathers, Thurman Jones, Jr. and Harold Cawley; and his uncle, Thurman 'Butch' Jones. A Celebration of Life will take place Sunday, December 14, 2025 in the Wakeman Eagles Club in Wakeman, Ohio from 12 Noon to 4 p.m. EST. All who loved him are welcome and invited to wear their best Cleveland Browns gear to honor the diehard fandom that ran through Deke's veins. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to the Paw & Order Rescue Ranch, which can be done through PayPal or Venmo. Dieken's soul was one of a kind, a presence the world will miss deeply but one that will be felt, remembered, and carried forward for eternity.