ELMER DEAN DECKER 1934-2005

RUCKHABER, DECKER, HILL, TROESTER, MOSER, METTILLE, SICKELS

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 1/26/2006 at 14:18:49

Elmer “Dean” Decker

Elmer “Dean” Decker, 71, of Waukon, Iowa, died Monday, December 19, 2005, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon, Iowa. Funeral services were held Friday, December 23 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon was in charge of arrangements.

Elmer Dean Decker was born July 24, 1934, in rural Luana, Iowa. His parents were Elmer C. and Hazel (Ruckhaber) Decker. He was baptized at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church, both in Waukon. Dean attended rural elementary schools in Allamakee County and then worked as a farm hand for Johanningmeier’s and also for his sisters, Jessie Troester and Delpha Moser, who farmed in the Colesburg area.

October 27, 1951, he married Bernelle Hill at the St. John’s Lutheran Church Parsonage in Waukon. Dean worked as a mechanic for Russ Enyart Ford until 1962. He operated his own milk hauling business from 1962 to 1969. Following that he was the body shop manager for Mark Mauss Chevrolet until 1973. From 1973 until 1989 he operated Decker Body Shop at his farm in rural Waukon. Most recently Dean was a parts department manager, first for Waukon Ford and then for Decorah Auto, until his retirement in 2003. For much of his working career he was also a hobby farmer. He did general farming and enjoyed riding and taking care of his horses which he took great pride in.

Dean was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church where he served on the church council for several years. He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and taking trips to see his daughter’s family in Alaska. Dean also enjoyed wood working, making beautiful grandfather clocks and curio cabinets that he gave to various family members. He was also a devoted care giver to his wife Bernelle.

Survivors include his wife, Bernelle of Waukon; his four children, Debbie (Butch) Mettille of North Pole, Alaska, Gayle (Carol), Scott (Pam), and Gregg (Sharilyn) all of Waukon; ten grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Bill (Jean) of Prairie du Chien, Wis.; and a sister, Delpha (Andy) Moser of Colesburg, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Merwyn “Bud” and Delmar; and two sisters, Jessie Troester and Marilyn Sickels.

Casketbearers were Kyle, Craig, Ryan, and Brandon Decker, Randy Robinson, Marvin “Butch” Hill, and Lynn Moser.

Waukon Standard, December 28, 2005