Christian "Coach" Wilhelmus De Prins

Lafayette - A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, April 1, 2017, at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Lafayette for Christian "Coach" W. De Prins, 58, who passed away on Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at his home. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at the church from 12:00 pm until time of service on Saturday. The Rt. Rev. Jacob W. Owensby, Ph.D., D.D. will officiate at the Memorial Service. Interment will follow in St. Barnabas Columbarium. Christian Wilhelmus Henrikus Marie De Prins, better known as "Coach", was born in Brussels, Belgium to Maria Van Baal De Prins and the late Pierre De Prins. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend. Coach taught for 36 years, beginning his career as a French teacher in DeRidder through CODOFIL (Council for the Development of French in Louisiana). He then went on to teach at St. Thomas More Catholic High for 11 years, followed by Carencro High for 20 years, and he was currently in his second year at Acadiana High. During his career, Coach taught world languages which included: English, French, German, Dutch, and Spanish. His love for coaching began in his earlier years when he played semi-professional soccer in Belgium. He enjoyed it so much that he saw it fitting to teach his favorite sport, along with swimming and tennis. Coach was a man of many talents and attributes, to try and describe the kind, thoughtful, positive, encouraging and selfless man he was is impossible. In his short 58 years, he made a huge impact on so many lives. He focused on bringing people together, which is why he always pushed "world language" not "foreign language", so that he could show others that we are all here for a purpose and should unite rather than divide. To have known him was to know compassion, greatness and love. His humor and infectious smile will be greatly missed by so many. Coach will forever be remembered for his sincere kindness, his encouragement, his love for the game, and most of all his love for people. His spirit will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and students. We will leave you with an excerpt of his words: "Everything seems brighter now and I expect even more greatness as I am following through on 'my intention' by greeting new people on a daily basis and by congratulating or thanking them for what they do individually to better our small world." He is survived by his loving spouse of 33 years, Susan Rebecca Hall De Prins; sons, Christian Patrice De Prins and Laurent Fabrice De Prins; mother, Maria Van Baal De Prins; sisters, Dominique De Prins Cadamuro and Bernadette De Prins; brothers, Olivier De Prins and Francis De Prins; sisters-in-law, Michal Hall Curry and Mary Hemby; brothers-in-law, Keith and James Hall; 10 nephews; 15 nieces; and his beloved dog, Nico. He was preceded in death by his father, Pierre De Prins; father-in-law, The Reverent Samuel Keith Hall; and mother-in-law, Norma Mae Clark Hall, RN. Honorary pallbearers will be all the kids he taught and coached throughout the years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests sending contributions for CODOFIL scholarships. Checks would need to be made to La Fondation Louisiane with bourses or scholarships in the memo and may be sent to our CODOFIL office here in Lafayette at 735 Jefferson St., Lafayette, LA 70501. Pellerin Funeral Home, (337-332-2111), is in charge of arrangements. To view on-line obituary, sign guestbook and view video tribute, go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com