Major Donald Joseph DeRoche, 82, from Columbus, Georgia passed away on January 17th, 2021. A memorial mass will be Friday, January 22, 2021 at St. Anne Catholic Church 10:00 am. A rosary will take place at 9:30 am prior to the mass. Burial will follow at Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery at 12:30 pm. Masks and social distancing are required for the service.
Don was born May 8, 1938 in Duluth, Minnesota to Vernon and Eileen DeRoche. He spent his college years as a wilderness guide on the Gun Flint Trail. He loved nature and animals. He rescued many injured animals and nursed them back to health including owls, woodpeckers and a featherless canary. He met and married his high school sweetheart, Kathleen Morrisey, on August 16th, 1958. He received his MBA from Georgia State University.
Don joined the US Army and served in two wars, retiring as a Major with 22 years of service. After his military career, he spent 10 years working civil service before retiring for a second time. He then began serving the Columbus community working as a volunteer for the Suicide Prevention Hotline, the American Red Cross where he was a Disaster “Chair” and responded to any calls where he could help others. He received the Clara Barton Award for Meritorious Volunteer Leadership, the Volunteer of the Year Award and the Dan Reed Rotary Award for Service Above Self.
He was an active member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church and served on the building committee for both the church as well as the Outreach Center. He served as an Outreach volunteer. Don received the Garland Service Award from the Diocese of Savannah.
Don loved God, his family, serving others and fishing, perhaps not in that order 😊.
Don wrote a poem called the Mortarman’s Prayer:
Within my hands I hold a mortar round,
That will soon be skyward bound.
I pray it’s path is high and true
To stop others from what they are trying to undo.
I know it can be a source of evil
In a world wrought by upheaval.
This round, however Lord, is destined to save a friend of mine
And he’s also a friend of Thine.
Then the FDC calls out – SHOT!
Even though my barrel’s awfully hot,
My steady hands release their load
And my response “Shot Out” rings loud.
Announcing an impending clout, it hints
Though I only catch a fleeting glimpse.
On the round’s upward celestial flight
I find myself in wondered plight….
Did I lay my gun exactly right?
On both clear day and cold dark night.
I wait in humble submission,
For the FO’s word – On Target, End of Mission.
Major DeRoche is survived by his wife of 62 years, Kathy DeRoche; son, Steve (Debby) DeRoche of Gainsville, Georgia; daughter, Cindy (Steve) Gersten of Ocala, Florida; son, David (Lisa) DeRoche of Salem, Alabama; and daughter, Tania DeRoche of Valley, Alabama; two brothers, William (Bill) DeRoche and Terrance (Terry) DeRoche; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
