Submitted by: Dan Rich
Morris G. DeGeyter Sr.
Aug. 31, 1925 - Dec. 18, 2007
South Bend Tribune 12/20/2007
MISHAWAKA - Morris G. "Moose" DeGeyter Sr., 82,
of Mishawaka, passed away in the early morning hours of Tuesday,
Dec. 18, in Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend, to
join his beloved Virginia in heaven. Moose was born on August 31,
1925, in Ruysellede, Belgium, as the son of Arthur and Helen (Christians)
De Geyter. He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters,
Mary Van De Walle, Madelyn Rupchok, Clara Newhouse
and Margaret Schalliol; and two brothers, Ray and Joe De
Geyter.
On November 13, 1948, in St. Bavo Catholic
Church, Mishawaka, he married the love of his life, Virginia Bokhart,
who preceded him in death on February 11, 2005. Surviving Moose
are his 10 children, Cecilia (Dr. Jack) Wehrly, Ft. Wayne,
IN, Morris (Peggy) De Geyter Jr. of South Bend, IN, Mark (Sheila)
De Geyter of Santa Fe, TX, Christine (Jeff) Dunwoody of
Niles, MI, Carolyn (Max) Durett of Moncks Corner, SC,
Martin (Debbie) De Geyter of Osceola, Mitch (Shelley) De Geyter
of Melbourne, FL, Matt (Trisha) De Geyter of Mishawaka, Mary
Grace (Rick) Stephens of South Bend and Michael De Geyter
of Mishawaka; 17 grandchildren, Sara, John, Audrey, Brad,
Jennifer, Karen, Adam, Olivia, Zach, Angela, Rebecca, Raschelle,
Jennifer, Matt, Brandon, Keaton and Christopher; and three
great-grandchildren, Taylor, Zachary and Saxton. Also surviving
are three sisters, Martha Rubchok of Mishawaka, Alice Flaugher
of Grovertown, IN, and Josephine Bradley of El Paso, TX.
Moose was a detective lieutenant for 20
years with the Mishawaka Police Department before he retired in
1970. He also worked at Wheelabrator Frye for 12 years. Moose was
a lifetime area resident, and was a veteran of the United States
Army, serving his country proudly during WWII. He was a lifetime
member of VFW Post 360 and the BK Club in Mishawaka, and was a
member of the Mishawaka FOP.
Family and friends may visit from 3 to 7
p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21st, in the Hahn Funeral Home, 505 W. 8th
Street, Mishawaka, where a Rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. A
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec.
22nd, in St. Bavo Catholic Church, Mishawaka, with Rev. Barry
England officiating. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial
Gardens, Osceola, where military rites will be by VFW Post
360-American Legion Post 161 Burial Squad. Memorial donations may
be made to the National Kidney Foundation of Indiana, 911 E. 86th
St., Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46240.