DECKER, George Jacob 1863-1943

DECKER, SPUHLER, WILSON, MORISCHE, LEATSLER, PACEY, GRANSEE

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 6/3/2009 at 13:38:11

#1:

OSAGE, IOWA -- Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the home and at 2:30 at the Presbyterian church north of Stacyville for George Decker, 79, who died late Thursday afternoon at his home after a few days illness. He was born on December 26, 1863, on a farm northwest of Stacyville.

He lived all his life in Mitchell county. Since 1917 he had lived in Osage.

He was married on January 15, 1887, to Mary Spuhler, who died in 1935. He married Clara Wilson of Rose Creek, Minnesota, on January 18, 1942.

He leaves a widow; two sons, Ralph, Riceville, and Bert, Stacyville; three daughters, Mrs. Stella Morische, Rudd; Mrs. Edith Leatsler, Joliet, Illinois; Mrs. Martha Pacey, Osage; his brother, Albert, Rudd; 12 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Burial will be in Union Cemetery.

Waterloo Daily Courier
Sunday, April 18, 1943
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#2:

George Decker

Was born in 1863 in Union township. Although the place of his birth is fine enough for any man, Mr. Decker has been quite inclined to look about. Every spring he takes a trip to Chicago. He has a brother-in-law in Kansas City who was a soldier. Mr. Decker has been down there. . .

From 42 acres of flax, he has just sold $970 worth with fifty bushels left in the bin at home. The flax was so clean the buyer took no test.

Mr. Decker has 105 acres of choice corn. It is so heavy he puts on four horses to cut it and it will go fifty bushels to the acre.

For two winters Mr. Decker was a student in the Cedar Valley Seminary and he remembers with interest the old school days. He and Mrs. Decker have just had an interesting picture taken of their farm home. Two wide-awake boys and two lively little girls have come to make merry with birds and calves and colts. Martha, Ralph, Reuben and Stella are their names.

[redacted, from a document at the Osage Public Library.]
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#3:

GEORGE J. DECKER
EARLY MITCHELL CO.
RESIDENT DIES

George J. Decker, a life-long resident of Mitchell county, died at his home in Osage on Thursday, April 15, 1943. He retired from the farm about 25 years ago and since then had lived in his home on north Seventh Street. Although Mr. Decker had been in failing health the last year, death came rather suddenly as a result of pneumonia.

Funeral service was held Sunday at the home, and later at the First Presbyterian church in Union township, conducted by the Rev. H. A. Sinning, of the Eden Presbyterian church.

Obituary--

George Jacob Decker was born on a farm in Union township, Mitchell county, Iowa, on December 26, 1863, to Jacob and Margaret Decker. All his life was spent in Mitchell county.

On January 15, 1887, he was married to Mary Guyer Spuhler, with who he lived happily for 50 years -- thirty years on the farm on which he was born, and the last 20 years in Osage, Iowa, where she passed away on August 9, 1937.

To this union were born seven children, two of whom preceded them in death -- Lillie and Rueben.

On January 18, 1942 Mr. Decker married Clara Gransee-Wilson.

Mr. Decker was an active member and elder of the First Presbyterian church in Union township. The house of God where he worshiped regularly, was built on a corner of the farm, where he was born and lived so long, and the cemetery where he was laid away is just back of the church, also on this farm.

Those who mourn his loss, besides his wife and quantities of friends are his five children: Mrs. Fred Pacey, Osage, Ralph A. Decker of Riceville, Mrs. Elmer [Stella] H. Morische, Osage, Bert G. Decker, on the home farm, Mrs. Maynard Leatsler, Joliet, Illinois; 12 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and a brother, Albert Decker, of Rudd, Iowa.

Mr. Decker passed away at his home in Osage, Iowa, on April 15, 1943, at 3:45 p.m., age 79 years, 3 months and 20 days.

Mr. Decker was a devoted husband and loving father, with a hearty greeting for every one. He was a very progressive man, always taking his part in the community, the church, and the farm life. He was always ready and eager to try any new methods of farming, ever eager to make improvements in the work and life of the farm. He never would admit he was tired and always bore his troubles with courage through his faith in God.

Source: Mitchell County Press-News - 22 APR 1943