Donald Decrock
Mass of Christian Burial for Donald Dean Decrock was held on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023 at St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent, MN at 10:30 a.m. A public visitation was held at St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent, MN on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023 from 5-7 p.m. with a rosary at 5 p.m. and prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation continued Friday morning at the church from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Burial took place at St. Eloi Cemetery in Ghent following the funeral mass. A luncheon was held at St. Eloi Catholic Church following the graveside service.
Donald Dean Decrock was born on March 9, 1936 to Edmon and Josephine (Vandenberghe) Decrock in Lyons Township, Lyon County, MN. He was baptized at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall, MN. He received first communion and was confirmed at St. Clotilde Catholic Church in Green Valley, MN. Donald attended rural school two miles south of Marshall, then transferred to a country school near Green Valley until finishing school in Cottonwood. He farmed with his father for a few years and then enlisted in the Air Force in 1956. He took a home course in art and an electronics correspondence course from Devry Tech. of Chicago.
On April 4, 1964 Donald was united in marriage to Suzanne Stassen at the Holy Redeemer
Catholic Church in Marshall. During this time, he worked as a repairman in Madison, MN
and Appleton, MN. In 1979, the couple moved to Minneota and Donald worked in Marshall until he got a job as a custodian at the Minneota Public School.
Donald had a great interest in flying and could often be seen flying his ultralight above Minneota and Ghent. In 1964, he built his own Gyrocopter which he was very proud of. Donald enjoyed creating model airplanes and cars with recycled materials and even flew his own remote-control airplane that he designed and built. Donald also enjoyed photography and taking home videos. He was very artistic and had a natural gift for art and music.
In 1994, Donald became very ill with a brain abscess. He was brought to the hospital at the University of Minnesota where he regained his health. Since then, he participated in many Bible studies and dedicated much of his time to reading God’s word and studying its meaning. Donald loved talking about Jesus and sharing his faith with his family and friends. Donald’s love of God, family and friends were the most important things in his life.
Donald died peacefully with family by his side on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023 at the Prairie Home Hospice McLaughlin House in Marshall after being diagnosed with brain cancer in early July 2023. His family is very grateful for the wonderful care he received there.
He is survived by his wife Suzanne (Stassen) Decrock; children Marie Decrock, Allen Decrock, Pamela (Kraig) Hunter, Donna (Adam Dero) Guillory, Robert Decrock, David Decrock; grandchildren Dustin Clapp, Danielle Clapp, Joseph Hunter, Jakob Hunter, Kennedy Hunter, Ian Guillory, Brynn Guillory; great-grandchildren Orlando Lopez, Bentley Lopez; siblings Betty (James) Biesecker, Diane (Duane) VanOverbeke, Darlene (Patrick) Kelly; siblings-in-law Francis (Betty) Stassen, Kathleen Bogatzki, Marianne (Richard) MacDonnel; and many nieces
and nephews.
Donald is preceded in death by his parents Edmon and Josephine Decrock, siblings Victor
Decrock, Constance Decrock, brother-in-law Ervin Bogatzki and brother-in-law Richard Stassen.
Blessed be his memory.
Arrangements with Horvath Funeral Service