Benjamin Decker 1877-1962

DECKER, ENGELHORN, BECHTEL, STEIBER, MARTI

Posted By: Janet Koozer (email)
Date: 10/30/2008 at 13:13:35

Funeral Services Held For Benjamin Decker

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at two o'clock at the Lansing Ridge Presbyterian Church at Church town for Ben Decker, 85, who passed away last Wednesday at the Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. For several weeks he and his wife had been at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Tade Bechtel in Lansing and he was taken just a couple of days earlier to the hospital for medical care but failed to respond to oxygen relief as he had done before.

He was born June 25, 1877 at Church town, the son of Adam and Mary Decker and one of several children. Following his education he farmed and on March 25, 1903 he was married to Anna Englehorn and shortly after he bought the store in Church town which he has owned and operated ever since. Failing health the past year or more has kept him from his familiar place behind the counter or at his desk. Besides his widow he is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Bechtel, Mrs. Donald Steiber of Lafayette township and Mrs. Esther Marti, of Church town. Other immediate survivors include two brothers, Sam, of Church and John, of Lansing besides nine grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren. Two sisters and one brother as did his parents preceeded him in death. He was widely known because of his mercantile establishment in the little town and highly respected for his courteous, fair and accommodating business methods. This was evidenced by the huge number of friends who called at the Burke Funeral Home to express sympathy to the bereaved family. While in the store he served the government as postmaster 44 years before retiring some years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Decker enjoyed the great privelege of observing their 59th wedding anniversary last spring.

Reverend James Coats officiating at the last rites and said the final prayers at the graveside in the Lansing Ridge Cemetery where interment was made. Casket bearers were life long friends, Willard Kerndt, Harold Fritz, Herbert Hartong, John Oesterlie, Alfred Saevert and Willard Sandry. His funeral was one of the largest hereabouts in recent years and among relatives and friends from away were: Mr. and Mrs. Don Andre and boys, Davenport; Mr. and Mrs. Ken De May, and sons Bettendorf John Wendel and son Alfred, Spring Grove, Minn.

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