11.01.06 Kansas City Star obituary for Dad

Jim Dechant, 76, died Tuesday, January 4, 2011, at home, in the arms of his beloved wife Judy. A visitation will begin at 12 noon, followed by a service celebrating Jim’s life at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, January 7, 2011, at the Yellow Rock Barn, 8307 Westridge Road, Raytown, MO 64138. Burial will follow the service in Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends and family are then invited to return to the Yellow Rock Barn for a “party” as Jim requested. Jim was a social worker and counselor in private practice for over 40 years, during which he provided assistance to more than 3500 families. To meet growing social problems of the 1970s and ’80s, he co-founded Sexual Abuse Treatment Network, which then merged with the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOSCA) in 1983, creating the Sexual Abuse Treatment Program. Following a long time counseling partnership with MOSCA, he performed volunteer services there. For some 30 years he led the Counseling and Personal Growth Center in Kansas City. Later, when living at Sunrise Beach in the Ozarks, he provided extensive volunteer counseling services to the Cedar Ridge Drug and Alcohol Center. Jim was born June 25, 1934, in Lisle, Illinois, to Wendelin and Dorothy Dechant. After high school, he attended the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio, obtaining a B.A. in Philosophy. Turning to social work, he obtained his Masters of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Kansas. He was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Board Certified Diplomat. In recognition of his work, he was named “Outstanding Social Worker of the Year” by the MO-KAN chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Most of all, he was a loving husband and father. His life was about love, family and service. He will be remembered dearly as a “good and loving man” and “someone who always gave more than he received.” He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Judy. He was preceded in death by a brother Kenneth Dechant and is survived by sisters Joan Engel (Larry), Arlene Spaw (Don), and Fran Scantling. Jim and Judy had a blended family of eight children. He was preceded in death by daughter Kelley Todd. He is survived by Sean O’Sullivan (Tammy), Beth Bernier, Meredith Ashby (Dave), Shannon Hasenack (Brian), Brian Dechant (Arlene), Conor O’Sullivan and David Dechant (Ann-Marie). He also leaves 16 grandchildren. For the last ten years of his life, Jim and his wife Judy struggled with his slow developing brain condition that escaped precise medical diagnosis. Symptoms included slow loss of memory, accompanied by some physical debilitation. He was keenly aware of this. His spirit of continuing service, value and love of life was presaged in this message sent to family and friends some seven years ago. After describing the slowly developing symptoms and the many alternatives being explored, he wrote: “In the meantime, I continue to volunteer … and try to live life at the fullest at all times. I hope you will share this time with me, but only on condition that there is laughter, joy and a good time.” The family requests no flowers. Contributions in honor of Jim’s life of service may be made to MOSCA. Donations may be left at the service to send to MOCSA at 3100 Broadway, Suite 400, Kansas City, MO 64111. You may send a message to the family or sign an online guest book via www.parklawnfunerals.com. Arrangements: Park Lawn Funeral Home, (816) 523-1234.