Eulogy for Past Supreme Knight Virgil Dechant

0:00

Become a Knight today: http://kofc.org/joinus Subscribe now to keep up with the Knights: http://bit.ly/SubscribeKnightsOfColumbus Stay connected on social media: https://www.facebook.com/KnightsofColumbus https://twitter.com/kofc https://www.instagram.com/kofc_official Visit us at: http://www.kofc.org Eulogy for Past Supreme Knight Virgil Dechant The Knights of Columbus mourns the loss of Past Supreme Knight Virgil C. Dechant, who passed away in his sleep at the age of 89 during the early morning hours of February 16, 2020. He was the Order’s longest-serving supreme knight, holding the office from 1977 to 2000. Virgil Dechant joined the Knights in 1949 and was a member of LaCrosse (Kansas) Council 2970 and St. Augustine Council 2340 in Liebanthal, Kansas. A very successful businessman, in addition to operating a private farm in Kansas, Dechant owned and operated his own car dealership and farm equipment firm. Dechant came to New Haven in 1967 to serve as the supreme secretary. Ten years later, he was elected supreme knight. As supreme knight, Virgil Dechant oversaw tremendous growth in the Order’s membership as well as in its assets and insurance business, while also opening the Order to greater involvement by the wives and families of its members. In addition, Mr. Dechant forged a close relationship with the Vatican during the pontificate of St. John Paul II, leading the Order to sponsor numerous renovation projects – including of the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica, and working with the pope to promote the faith in Eastern Europe, which was then behind the iron curtain.