My Brothers,

Please keep in your prayers repose of the soul of Past Supreme Knight Virgil C. Dechant who passed into eternal rest February 15, 2020 at the age of 89.  Brother Dechant was the 12th and longest serving Supreme Knight holding office from  January 21, 1977 until his retirement on September 30, 2000.  He was succeeded by Supreme Knight Carl Anderson.

Brother Dechant was a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Pope Pius IX, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre and received the National Right to Life award along with Senator Jesse Helms in 1998. He had the honor of escorting President George W. Bush to the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

In 2012 he was awarded the Knights of Columbus highest honor, the Gaudium et Spes Award, by Supreme Knight Carl Anderson.  The Gaudium et Spes Award was established by then Supreme Knight Dechant in 1992, with Mother Teresa as its first recipient. 

Click here for the announcement from the Supreme Council.

“Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him.  May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”
May God bless,

Dave Abbott
State Deputy
Knights of Columbus
California State Council