Herman Degnats

Milford – Herman “Dick” Degnats, age 72, peacefully passed away Wednesday, June 2, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born on November 1, 1948 in Milford, DE and attended elementary school in Felton, DE before moving to Harrison, NY where he graduated from Harrison High School in 1966. Dick was drafted into the Army in 1968 and served in the Vietnam War.  During this time, he was stationed in NaTrang, Vietnam, working as a Military Police Officer.

Upon returning to New York, Dick began a career in the grocery business. For 15 years, he worked and managed several different grocery stores throughout southern New York state. In 1985, Dick returned to Delaware, where he was employed by Hirsch Industries in Dover until his retirement in 2005.

Dick was an avid fisherman and could often be found on his boat in the Delaware Bay. Over the past few years, he was a regular on the Grizzly and Katydid charter boats out of Lewes, DE. He also spent a great deal of time working in his garden.

Dick will be remembered for his unique and witty sense of humor. Although he was never fond of the attention, he will also be remembered for his generosity and willingness to always lend a hand to the friends and family he held close to his heart.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Ruth Artis and father, Herman Degnats Sr.

He is survived and deeply missed by his wife of 44 years, Maria Degnats; daughter and son-in-law, Jen and Josh Brown; granddaughters Lyla and Evalyn Brown; sister and brother-in-law Sue and Tom Herr; sister-in-law Leona Raffio; as well as a loving family of aunts, uncles, cousins and niece.

The family will receive visitors at Rogers Funeral Home, 301 Lakeview Ave, Milford, from 10AM to 12PM on Thursday 6/10, with a memorial service at 12 noon.