Donald DeCou

Tuesday, June 21, 2016 2:16 pm

Donald DeCou, 95, of Decorah, died Sunday, June 19, 2016, at Wellington Place in Decorah. The funeral service was at 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 22, at Wellington Place, 2479 River Rd., Decorah, with one hour of visitation prior to the service Wednesday, with Rev. Phillip Gibbs presiding. Burial was at the St. Agnes Catholic Cemetery.

Donald John DeCou was born May 17, 1921, near Ossian, the son of John and Tillie (Peck) DeCou. Donald attended Ossian High School and graduated in 1939. Donald married Anna Grace Ryan Jan. 25, 1945, at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Plymouth Rock. They farmed near Burr Oak until 1972, when they moved to Burr Oak, where they owned and operated the Burr Oak Mercantile. Donald also worked at Mabel Lumber yard during this time. They moved into the Oneota Apartments in Decorah in 1994. In March of 2006 they moved to the Oneota Riverview Care Facility. Donald enjoyed watching sports, flower gardening, fishing, farming and going to the boat.

Donald is survived by a son, David DeCou (friend Rick Uthe), Decorah; sister-in-law, Jane Headington, Austin, Minn.; along with many nieces and nephews.

Donald was preceded in death by his wife, Anna Grace, July 4, 2006; one daughter, Shirley, in 1952; parents, John and Tillie (Peck) DeCou; brother, Paul (Helen) DeCou; two sisters, Evelyn (Melvin) Underbakke, Mary (Ralph) Gunderson; father- and mother-in-law, Frank and Julia (Daley) Ryan; brothers- and sister-in-law, Harold (Marlys) Ryan, Edward (Evelyn) Ryan and Layle (Rose) Ryan, Phyllis (Louie) McCabe, Mae (Francis) Gossman, Doris (Dick) Carr, Frances Ryan, Donna (Ardin) Whalen and Ron Headington.