Thomas King DeCou, 92

Thomas King DeCou, 92, former resident of Capac, left this earth peacefully on September 5, 2024, after a long, courageous battle with cancer. The son of William H. and Jimmie (Cart) DeCou, Tom was born August 10, 1932, in Detroit, and grew up in Grosse Pointe.

As a teenager Tom spent a year at his dream job being a seaman on the Great Lakes and recently told us he always wanted to be a freighter pilot. Instead he was inducted by the U.S. Army. A Korean War veteran, Tom proudly served as a Corporal in telecommunications with the 101st Signal Battalion. During his service he received the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Services Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, National Defense Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. In 1987, after 26 years of field service Tom retired from the Social Security Administration. He then spent his time pursuing his passions camping, fishing and watching sports. In June 1985, Tom married the love of his life, Mary Louise (Couckuyt) Worth and they spent the next 40 years together in Capac and Florida.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents and his brother James DeCou.

Tom will be missed by his wife of 39 years, Mary Louise and her four children, Greg, Dave, Cindy and Kathy; 11 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; nephew Christopher DeCou; nieces Jennifer and Amy; along with many great nieces and nephews; and close family friend Patrick Grendon.

Internment with military honors will be September 24, 2024, at 11 a.m. in the Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Bellford Rd., Holly, MI 48442. Please arrive 15 minutes early and follow directions to the Thomas DeCou procession. Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Kaatz Funeral Directors, Capac.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent in his remembrance to the Blue Water Area Humane Society, 6266 Lapeer Rd, Clyde, MI 48049.