Fr. Earl John Dekat

 Fr. Earl John Dekat, 84, of St. George, Kansas, passed away on Thursday (January 9, 2025) at the Home of the Flint Hills in St. George.

 Born May 20, 1940 in Flush, Kansas, Fr. Earl was the son of Clem and Laura (Winter) Dekat. 

 He attended grade school and High School in Flush and Conception Seminary College in Conception, Missouri where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree. Following his ordination, Fr. Earl was called to serve many churches. They were Cure of Ars in Leawood, KS, St. John the Baptist Church in Kansas City, Holy Name Church in Topeka, KS, Immaculate Conception Church in Leavenworth, KS, Mooney Creek Catholic Church in Corpus Christi, St. Gregory’s Catholic Church in Marysville, KS, St. Eliz Catholic Church in Waterville, KS, St. Monica Catholic Church in Blue Rapids, KS, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Valley Falls, KS, St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Meriden, KS, St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Easton, KS, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Burlington, KS, St. Theresa Catholic Church in Westphalia, KS, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Waverly, KS, Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Paola, KS, St. Phillip Neri Catholic Church I Osawatomie, KS, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys, KS, Holy Cross Catholic Church in Emmett, KS, St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Rossville, KS, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Delia, KS, St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca, KS, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Corning, KS and lastly at St. Bede’s Catholic Church in Kelly, KS. Fr. Earl was also active with the Knights of Columbus, Fraternity of Priests, Marriage Encounter, Jesu Caritas and various retreats and workshops over the years.

 Fr. Earl enjoyed riding his bicycle, tending to his vegetable garden, canning, playing cards, baking his cherry pies and he was an accomplished woodworker, making many toys and crosses that he gave to the children of his churches.

 Surviving is a brother, Joe Dekat (Dorothy) of Irving, TX; two brothers in law, Jerry Suther of Iowa City, IA and Leonard Dutton of Glendale, AZ; and many nieces and nephews.

 Fr. Earl was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Tom Dekat and Larry Dekat; and four sisters, Sr. Merita Dekat, SSS, Eileen Boatwright, Doretha Suther and Rose Dutton.

 A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday morning (January 25, 2025) at 10:30 in St. Joseph Catholic Church at Flush. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Flush.

 Visitation will be Friday evening (January 24, 2025) from 4:00 to 7:00 at Campanella & Stewart Funeral Home in Wamego. A Rosary will be Friday evening at 7:00 at the funeral home.

 Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Joseph Catholic Church. Please make checks payable to St. Joseph Catholic Church and those may be left with Campanella & Stewart Funeral Home, P. O. Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547.