Emerald Victor Dechant, age 82, of Hays died Friday, December 26, 2008, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.
Emerald was born April 26, 1926, at Liebenthal, Kansas, to Cornelius and Ursula (Legleiter) Dechant. He married Deloris Constance Milke on January 10, 1952, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays. Deloris died on April 10, 2007. Deloris and Emerald were blessed with three children. Their son, Randolph Lee was born June 21, 1953, and died on January 1, 1994. Survivors include two daughters and their husbands, Lorianne and George Jochum of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Pamela and Curt Unrein of Hays, Kansas; His grandchildren, Johnathon Jochum and his wife, Jillian, of Enid, Oklahoma, Jennifer Jochum and son Derek, Washington D.C., Justin Jochum of Tucson, Arizona, Chad Unrein and his wife, Heather, of Topeka, Kansas, Brett Unrein of Wichita, Kansas, and Brigette Dechant of Texas. Other surviving members include his brothers, Harry Dechant of Hays and Virgil Dechant and his wife, Anne of Kansas City, Kansas; sisters, Bernice Schaffer of Hays, Peggy Norris of Russell, Kansas, Rosalyn Giesick, Carol Jean Werth, and Jeanette Gabel, all of WaKeeney, Kansas, and many nieces and nephews.
In 1950 Emerald enrolled at Fort Hays State College to obtain a high school teaching certificate. He continued to obtain his Master's Degree in Counseling and Philosophy. He served in the Army during the Korean War and was assigned to Fort Leonard Wood serving in the medical detachment hospital. Thereafter, Emerald attended the University of Kansas, graduating in 1958 with a PhD in Educational Counseling. He began his career at Wichita State in the Psychology department. In 1959 he joined Fort Hays State accepting a position as Director of Counseling and Psychology. In 1970 Emerald accepted a position as President of Marymount college in Salina, Kansas and returned to FHSU in 1976 as professor of education and remained there until he retired.
Emerald was a widely recognized author and expert in the field of reading. He published extensively, was listed in professional journals and was active in campus, community, statewide and national organizations and associations. He spoke extensively on reading and at numerous high school and college commencements.
Some of Emerald's publications include: Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Disability (1969), Linguistics, Phonics, and the Teaching of Reading (1969), Detection and Correction of Reading Difficulties (1971), Reading Improvement in the Secondary School (1973), Psychology in Teaching Reading (1961, 1977), Teacher's Directory of Reading Skill Aids and Materials (1981), Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Disabilities (1981), Improving the Teaching of Reading (1964, 1970, 1982), Understanding and Teaching Reading (1991), Whole Language Reading (1993), How to Be Happily Married (1972).
After retirement he dedicated time to researching and writing on the Volga German history and documenting his family's genealogy.
Emerald was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council #2340 of Liebenthal, Kansas, Bishop Cunningham Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus of Hays, Kansas, and was a former member of the American Legion of Hays.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 30, 2008, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays. Burial with military honors by the American Legion will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery in Hays. On Monday there will be a Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus honor guard at 6:00 p.m., a parish vigil service at 6:30 p.m. followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:00 p.m. at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 20th and Pine. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 6 until 8 p.m., on Monday from 2 until 8 p.m. and on Tuesday, from 9:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. A memorial has been established with the Catholic Campus Center or for masses in his name and memory.