Roger Edwin Decker 1941 - 2010

GRUETZMACHER, DECKER, CANFIELD, BUHR, DUNHAM, CHAFFEE, GILLILAND, HOPKINS, HUBER, BRACELIN

Posted By: N. Wagner (email)
Date: 3/12/2010 at 19:30:32

Roger E. "Top-Deck" Decker, 68, of Westgate, Iowa, died Saturday morning, Feb. 27, 2010, at his home in Westgate following a courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. today (Wednesday) at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Westgate. The Rev. Timothy E. Parker will officiate.

Visitation was scheduled for 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, at Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein, and after 9:30 a.m. today (Wednesday) at the church.

Interment will be in St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery in Westgate.

Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Oelwein, is assisting with arrangements.

Roger Edwin Decker was born Oct. 27, 1941, in Oelwein to Edwin H. and Dora Viola (Gruetzmacher) Decker. He was baptized on Nov. 16, 1941, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Westgate and was confirmed in the same church on April 3, 1955.

Roger attended St. Peter Lutheran School through eighth grade and graduated from Maynard High School in 1959.

He served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1963 to 1969.

On Feb. 5, 1966, Roger was united in marriage with Judith Ann Canfield by the Rev. Kenneth L. Krahn at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Westgate. Four sons were born to this union.

Roger was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Westgate, serving in many leadership roles and singing in the church choir.

He loved to dance, ride a motorcycle, and attend his children's and grandchildren's many activities. He was affectionately known to them as "Grandpa Roger."

Roger's second family was his Farm Credit family. He served as director on various Farm Credit boards from 1982 to present. These boards included the Federal Land Bank Association of Decorah, Farm Credit Services of America in Omaha, Neb., Agri Bank of St. Paul, Minn., and the National and District Farm Credit Council.

He also served on the AMPI Board of Directors, was a longtime township trustee, director of NEOWA FS, was a 4-H leader and served on the Fayette County Fair Board.

Roger always had a passion for the family farm. He began with his father in 1959 and continued farming with three of his sons. This partnership is known as Top-Deck Holsteins Inc. Roger was always known for his big heart and his "thumbs-up" attitude. He was a man of great faith and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Preceding Roger in death were his parents; a brother, Richard Decker; and his father-in-law, Melvin Canfield.

Survivors include his wife, Judy Decker of Westgate; four sons, Tracy (Amy) Decker of Monona and Bryce, Peyton, Micah, Karter, and Kashton; Jason Decker of Westgate and Reagan, McKenna, and Olivia; Derek (Lori) Decker of Westgate and Devin, Jasmine, and Tyson; and Justin (Amber) Decker of Westgate and Braiden, Kanen, and Baby Decker due in July.

Also surviving are two sisters, Gale (the Rev. Roger) Buhr of Decorah and Colette (Art) Dunham of Hopkinton; his mother-in-law, Esther Canfield, and special friend Duane Janssen of Denver, Ia.; sisters-in-law Loretta Canfield of Sarasota, Fla., Sandy (George) Chaffee of Sun City, Ariz., Marcy (Larry) Gilliland of Sarasota, Fla., Kathy (Chris) Hopkins of Earlham, Marilyn (Mark) Huber of Denver, Ia., and Debbie (John) Bracelin of Milford; a brother-in-law, Melvin (Julie) Canfield of Des Moines; many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Roger E. Decker's name to St. Peter Lutheran Church of Westgate or to the Westgate Building Committee.

Fayette County Union - 2 March 2010