Local pastor celebrates two 60th anniversaries

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The Special Events Committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. John in Sycamore has planned a special celebration to be held on Aug. 9 to honor the 60th anniversary of the Rev. Henry C. Dequin’s ordination and the 60th wedding anniversary of Dequin and Alberta Josephine Kalna.

A “memory book” for the pastor and Alberta is being planned. Any thoughts, memories and well wishes will be included in the book. All notes, letters and photos need to be at the church no later than July 1 to allow time to assemble and complete the book. The mailing address for anyone wishing to send cards is: St. John Lutheran Church, 26555 Brickville Road, Sycamore, IL 60178 (attn: 60th Anniversary Committee)

Dequin was born June 20, 1925, in Detroit, the son of Henry and Reta Osborn Dequin. He was baptized into the Christian faith on July 19, 1925, at Zion Lutheran Church in Detroit, the congregation of his paternal grandparents and great-grandparents. He was confirmed in the faith on April 10, 1938, at Covenant Lutheran Church in Detroit.

Coming to Northern Illinois University in 1974 as an assistant professor in the department of library and information studies, he was promoted to associate professor in 1980 and to professor in 1987. Dequin has authored numerous journal articles and several monographs, including a book published in 1983, “Librarians Serving Disabled Children and Young People.”

While teaching at NIU, he served as vacancy pastor for a number of congregations, including three times at St. John, Burlington, 1977-1978, 1981-1982, and 1997-1998; at Trinity, Hampshire, 1984; at Immanuel, Hinckley, 1978-1980; and twice at St. John, Sycamore, 1976-1977 and 1986-1987. On Oct. 4, 1987, he was installed as pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. John, Sycamore, and retired from NIU in 1988. He served the St. John congregation until his retirement in April 1997, and was then designated as pastor emeritus. During the years that he has lived in DeKalb, when he was not serving as a vacancy pastor or as pastor of St. John’s, he conducted services and preached at many churches in the northern Illinois area.

On Sept. 17, 1949, Dequin and Alberta Josephine Kalna of St. Louis, the daughter of Joseph and Beatrice Beckwith Kalna, were married at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in St. Louis. Alberta grew up in St. Louis and Jennings, Mo., and attended grade school and high school in Jennings. After graduating from high school, she attended Harris Teachers College in St. Louis. She has been a loving and faithful helpmate to her husband, and has used her gifts and talents as a housewife, mother and in the service of the church.

The Dequins have four children, three of whom live in the Detroit area: Michael and Linda Dequin in Wixom, Mich.; Rebecca and Richard Vrtis in Detroit; and Mark and Debra Dequin in Howell, Mich. Daughter Rachel England lives in Sycamore. They also have 11 grandchildren: Jesse (Danielle) Dequin, Nicole Dequin, Matthew Vrtis, Eric Vrtis, Elizabeth (Christopher) Arsenault, Nathan Dequin, Melissa LaTulip, Danielle Dequin, Nicole (Corey) Homick, Tiffany Andersen and Patrisha Andersen. Six great-grandchildren round out the Dequin family: Andrew Arsenault, Caden Arsenault, Kollin Dequin, Xaida LaTulip, Jenna Andersen and Cameron Homick.