Dahl Patrick DeBoer, 86, of St. Johns, MI passed peacefully on Friday, February 23, 2018. He was born November 2, 1931 to Ruth and Mark DeBoer at Gaylord Hospital in Gaylord, MI. Dahl graduated from Rodney B. Wilson High School in St. Johns where he played football and was a member of the 1949 and 1950 undefeated teams and as a result was inducted into the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame and later into the St. Johns Sports Hall of Fame. After high school he worked sailing the Great Lakes and later became a Merchant Marine Seaman traveling overseas. Returning to Michigan he went into business with his father to form Mark DeBoer & Sons Wholesale Beef Company. Later as a businessman he owned /operated the Dutch House of Beef and Flying Dutchman during his career as a restaurateur. Becoming a pilot and flying was Dahl’s favorite hobby, but sports and hunting was also in the mix. He enjoyed his comrades in volunteering at the Edwin T. Stiles American Legion Post #153 and the Clinton-Gratiot Voiture 868 of the 40 et 8, along with participating in the Military Honor Guard. His kindness, humor and presence will truly be missed. In 1954 he married his wife of 63 years, Verena Thelen in Fowler, MI and she survives him. They raised together four children, Mark DeBoer, Ruth (Alan) Kaufman, Diane Galbavi,and Dale (Amanda) DeBoer; six grandchildren, Kenneth Galbavi, Alexander Loji, Timothy Galbavi, Chelsea Loji, Liam DeBoer and Leo DeBoer; one great grandchild, Cadence Galbavi; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by and infant sister, Alice Kay DeBoer and a brother Dirk. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, March 3, 2018 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns with Pastor Ellen Zienert officiating. Interment will take place at 3:30 PM at Mt. Rest Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends 5:00 to 8:00 PM Friday, March 2, 2018 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to St. Johns First United Methodist Church 200 E. State St. St. Johns, MI 48879 or Heartland Hospice 333 N. Summit St. P.O. Box 10086 Toledo, OH 43699.
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