Maurice August DeJaeghere

Mass of Christian Burial for Maurice DeJaeghere, 85, of Luverne, formerly of Lynd, will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 13, 2021, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. Visitation will be Friday from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with a CCW Rosary at 4:00 p.m. and a Parish Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at the Horvath Remembrance Center in Marshall. Visitation will continue on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at the remembrance center. Interment will follow the service at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Marshall.

Maurice August DeJaeghere was born on December 17, 1935, in rural Minneota to Edmond and Leonie DeJaeghere. He was baptized, received first communion, and confirmed at St. Edward Catholic Church in Minneota. Maurice grew up on the family farm south of Minneota raising cattle and hogs. He graduated from Minneota High School in 1954, where he participated in basketball, track, and was on a bowling league. While farming, he hauled cattle to South St. Paul for Al Hovland Trucking. Soon after that, he started running a crew for D.C. Kompelien Construction. He met Aggie (Lamote) the summer of 1963 and they were married on November 21, 1964, at St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent. They became members of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. They lived in Marshall until 1973 and then moved to their farm west of Marshall and continued to farm full-time. During those years, they had five children: Karen, Kevin, Kristine, Kimberly, and Kelly, who all have fond memories of growing up on the farm – from baling hay and Dad’s quick tractor driving lessons, to their chicken business that started out on a summer trial basis of 50 chicks to 500 the next summer! He enjoyed going to tractor shows and farm auctions. Also, as a hobby, he collected toy tractors and restored antique tractors. Maurice was an avid reader of anything and everything! He loved gardening on a large scale – especially tomatoes. While working on the road for McLaughlin & Schulz, he purchased a camper and realized how much he like camping. It turned into a favorite summer pastime along with traveling. From Sunday afternoon drives, to trips with family to the Black Hills, northern MN, North Carolina, Nashville, Colorado and the Grand Canyon. And, we can’t forget his love for ice cream and sharing it with his grandchildren, especially strawberry revel! In 1987, they moved to an acreage west of Lynd. Maurice still had livestock but began working for Bornhoff Concrete in the summer and delivering fertilizer for Terra. He was always busy. Maurice never really wanted to retire. He enjoyed being behind the wheel and would haul baby chicks cross country for Swift Hatchery. His second career passion was construction and on a season basis would work for McLaughlin & Schulz, Ardeen Tolk Graveling, and Thompson Construction. In 1997, he had a successful 5 way bypass. Years later, in April of 2016, he suffered a hemorrhagic stroke which progressed into vascular dementia. After their farm auction, the couple moved to Sioux Falls to be closer to their children. In June of 2018, Maurice moved to Good Samaritan’s Mary Jane Brown Nursing Home in Luverne. Maurice passed away peacefully with his family in Luverne on Saturday, November 6, 2021, at the age of 85 years, 10 months, and 20 days.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Aggie, of Sioux Falls, SD, children Karen (and Mike) Winter of Luverne, Kevin (and Cheryl) of Tea, SD, Kristine DeJaeghere-Tillett of Sioux Falls, SD, Kimberly (and Jeff) Poitra of Sioux Falls, SD, and Kelly Burch of Luverne. Also survived by 11 grandchildren: Brandon, Austin, Jordan, Zack, Logan, Derek, Carissa, Caitlyn, Alex, Riley and Wyatt; brother Joseph (and Lorraine) of Marshall, niece Mary Jane Harris of Hanley Falls and many sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews of the DeJaeghere-Lamote families. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edmond and Leonie, sister Elodie (Ellen) Goossen, sister-in-law Alice St. Aubin, brothers-in-law Fritz Goossen, Joseph Vercruysse, Joseph Lamote, Vincent St. Aubin, and in memory of the recent passing of niece Brittany Lamote.