Cole Brandon DeBoer

Cole Brandon DeBoer, 37, of Eagan, MN, passed away in Regions Hospital, St. Paul, MN, on February 28, 2024, with his loving family by his side. Cole had been in a coma for several weeks following pulmonary aspiration. 

Cole was born in Grand Forks, ND on February 18, 1987, the first born of 3 sons of Dennis Allen and Kelly Lynne (Knox) DeBoer. Cole was baptized and confirmed at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Crookston and raised on the family’s farm, near Crookston, with his brothers, Brady and Alex. He attended Our Saviors School from pre-school to 6^th grade and graduated from Crookston High School with the Class of 2005. Cole then attended and graduated from the Northland Community and Technical College in East Grand Forks. He was employed with Fertile Lawn in East Grand Forks for several years. Cole decided in 2019 to attend Adult and Teen Challenge in Brainerd, MN – a decision that would change his life for the better.  The positive impact from this program shaped Cole to be the best version of himself that he could possibly be, while also making lifelong friends who were like brothers to him. A few years later he decided to go back to school at Metropolitan State in St. Paul, MN to become a Drug and Alcohol Counselor. Cole made the Dean’s List his whole time attending and this would have been his last semester. He was so proud of all his hard work and accomplishments.

Cole was an extraordinary son, brother, cousin, uncle, Godfather, and legend. He adored his Godson Aiden who he couldn’t wait to see and make smile or laugh. Cole had a smile that could light up a room and people would naturally gravitate to him. He loved any and all sports, and especially playing pickleball with his brothers or anyone else he could find that would dare.   He also loved playing pick- up basketball games and frisbee golf. Cole (CatDaddy) loved catfishing which he had a passion for from a very young age, and he would go down below the farm to the river always hoping to one up his best catch. He had a very competitive nature and was always up to any challenge.  Cole had a very deep and passionate love for God, his family, and friends.

Cole will be very sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his Dad and Mom, Dennis and Kelly DeBoer, of Crookston; his brothers, Brady DeBoer of Fargo, ND    and Alex and Haley DeBoer of Crookston and their children, Aiden, Cole’s Godson and nephew, and Avery, his niece; girlfriend, Amanda Johnson of St. Paul, MN and her children, Johnathon and Nevaeh; his grandmothers, Colene DeBoer of Crookston and Claudia Knox of Fisher, MN; great aunts: Pearl Radi of Fargo, ND, Vivian Berg of Vancouver, WA, and Susan Gibbons of Eagan, MN; aunts and uncles: Gary and Beth DeBoer and James and Nell DeBoer of Crookston, Todd DeBoer of Baxter, MN, Mark and Nancy Knox of Fisher, MN, Monique and Darrell Utzinger and Scott Knox of East Grand Forks, MN and Stephen Knox; and many cousins, extended family and friends. 

Cole is preceded in death by his grandfathers, Francis “Franny” DeBoer and James “Jim” Knox: aunt, Marcie DeBoer; cousin, Joshua DeBoer; and other family.

The Mass of Christian Burial honoring Cole’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 9, 2024, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Crookston, with Msgr. David Baumgartner, presiding, and with visitation for one hour prior to the service. There will also be a visitation at the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home in Crookston on Friday the 8^th from 5-7:00 p.m., with a prayer service and time of sharing at 7:00 p.m. The prayer service will be livestreamed by going to Cole’s obituary page at www.stenshoelhouske.com and clicking on the prompt to view. The Funeral Mass will be livestreamed by going to either www.crookstoncathedral.com or www.stenshoelhouske.com and clicking on the prompt to view. 

In lieu of flowers please consider a gift in Cole’s memory to Adult and Teen Challenge of Brainerd, MN.

The family wishes to give special thanks to all the Doctors, Nurses, Palliative Care Teams, and Father Cassian of Regions Hospital, St. Paul, MN, for all the care and support given to Cole and the family.