DECKER, Lester George 1926-2011

DECKER, HAUGEN, HARTWIG

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/9/2011 at 12:24:45

Lester George Decker, age 84, of Osage, died Friday, April 8, 2011, at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 13, 2011, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Osage with Rev. Bruce Kaltwasser officiating. Burial will be in the Osage Cemetery with Military Honors by Osage American Legion Post 278. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage.

Lester was born September 19, 1926 in Stacyville, the son of Bert George and Grace (Haugen) Decker. He graduated from Osage High School in 1943. He joined the Navy at the age of 17, in October of 1944, and was discharged in June of 1946. After the Navy, he started his carpentry career with his grandfather Oliver Haugen. On May 17, 1950 he married Joanne Ruth Hartwig at Trinity Lutheran Church in Osage. To this union was born two children, a son Dana Lee and a daughter Shelley Kay.

Lester’s carpentry career included many skills from cement work, shingling, home construction, and home remodeling, to his craftsmanship in bathroom and kitchen remodeling with custom built cabinets. His fine craftsmanship is seen all over Osage and surrounding communities. He passed his love of woodworking on to his son Dan. After his retirement he continued his love of woodworking with many projects for his family and friends.

His latest woodworking love was his handcrafted canes. Lester enjoyed “sitting on his stump” in his driveway watching the neighborhood activities. Many people, young and old alike would stop by and chat. He also enjoyed hand feeding walnuts to the squirrels in his back yard. Lester was a long time member of the Osage American Legion Post 278 and the Osage VFW Post 7920 as well as Trinity Lutheran Church.

Lester is survived by his wife of 60 years Joanne Decker of Osage; his son, Dan Decker of Rosemount, Minnesota; his daughter, Shelley (Brad) Mueller of Greenfield, and their sons, Jonah and Caleb; several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Darrell and his sister, Marye.

Champion – Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage, (641)732-3706.

[Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home obituary and photograph - 4/9/2011]

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