The Honorable Judge Douglas A. Dehn, 93, of Haslett and formerly of Mt. Pleasant died on October 15, 2013 in Haslett, Michigan at Home Sweet Home Assisted Living Facility.
Dehn was born Aug. 10, 1920, in Three Rivers to William C. and Kittie A. (Petre) Dehn.
Dehn was raised in Three Rivers and was one of five children.
He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1942 with a bachelor of arts in political science and history, and served the next four years in the U.S. Army Air Force.
Seven of those months included overseas duty in Okinawa.
In 1943, while in the service, Doug married Beatrice Lora Bassett, of Syracuse, N.Y.
At the end of World War II, Dehn re-enrolled at University of Michigan and graduated in 1949 with a Juris Doctor Law Degree.
Dehn practiced private law, was twice elected prosecuting attorney, and served 10 years as 76th District Court Judge in Isabella County, from 1968 – 1978.
Dehn was involved with Mt. Pleasant Jaycees, United fund, Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts, VFW, Elks Club, Lions Club, Mt. Pleasant Country Club, and the First Presbyterian Church.
After the death of his first wife in 1971, Dehn married Frances Greene Bailey in 1972.
Upon retirement in 1978, Doug and Fran moved to Vero Beach where he spent the majority of time golfing.
A few years after Fran’s death, Doug moved back to the East Lansing area.
Survivors include five children, Marilyn Torosian, of Rancho Mirage, Calif., Barb (Ken) Henderson, of Midland, Bruce (Sue) Dehn, of Mt. Pleasant, Kittie (Mike) Butcher, of Williamston, and Deb (Bill) Ayers, of Orland, Calif.; grandchildren, Kara (Steven) Bauman, Wm. Bradly (Ruby) Hodgkinson and Lori (Abe) Anderson, Derek (Crystal) Dehn and Lucas Dehn, Patrick Butcher, and Nathan (Krysta) Ayers and Amanda Ayers; seven great grandchildren; and stepchildren, James H. Bailey, Chris Bailey, Ed Bailey.
Dehn was preceded by his first wife, Beatrice Dehn; his son, Douglas Dehn Jr; his second wife, Frances Dehn; his brother, Bill; and sisters, Betty, Ruth, and Nola.
Donations may be made to Great Lakes Hospice Foundation 900 Cooper St., Jackson MI 49202, Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675, or the charity of your choice.
The family will receive friends at Lux Family Life Story Funeral Home on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 3 to 7 p.m.
His ashes will be interred at Riverside Cemetery.
To learn more about Doug’s life or to sign the online guest book, please visit www.LuxFamilyFuneralHome.com.
