Dekker, Johan "Joe" 1930-2017

DEKKER

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/23/2017 at 09:24:02

Johan “Joe” B. Dekker, age 86, of Sioux Center, IA, Sunday, May 21, 2017 at Royal Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center.
 
     A memorial service will be at 11:00 AM, Thursday, May 25th at Covenant Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center, IA, with Reverend Kory Plockmeyer officiating.
 
     The family will greet their guests during the fellowship time following the memorial service.
 
Joe, was the second child of three born on the Indonesian island of Sumatra to Anthony, a pharmacist and Elizabeth Dekker.  During the early growing up years Pa was busy playing outside.  Swimming was at the top of the list.  Those good years ended with three years in a Japanese internment camp during World War II.
After the war the Dekkers were reunited on Sumatra and then returned to the Netherlands for the sake of their children’s education.  Joe went on in his schooling to receive a degree in tropical agriculture from the National Agricultural College in Deventer.  While in Holland, Joe met Tina and they decided to get married, but he had to leave for Tanzania where a job was awaiting him. Tina followed nine months later and they were married in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He worked at an experimental farm for three years and while there Rob, their oldest son was born.  After three years they went on furlough to Holland where Pa resigned from his job.  Rin was born in Holland and soon thereafter plans were made to emigrate to America.
New Jersey became their new home and a third child, Tim, was born (3 continents-3 kids.)  Pa worked in electronics but finally decided in 1975 to start his own business called the Waterscaping Company. Pa’s plan was to make ponds, waterfalls and water gardens “that look like God put them there.”  Pa succeeded in this!  It was a tenuous beginning with two kids in college and one in Christian School.  Pa and Ma together continued onward creating pieces of paradise in people’s backyards throughout northern New Jersey.   Joe designed and installed the ponds while Tina placed plants in just the right spots.  This job meshed with Pa’s abilities of artistry, electricity, plumbing, creativity and being able to make things work with what he had on hand.  Being outdoors was another aspect of the job Pa loved.  As children we loved watching Pa schmooze with homeowners who were soon taught when to bring Pa coffee with cream and lots of sugar.  These offerings at times were presented on silver platters laden with silver creamers, silver sugar pots, silver coffee pots and a side of cookies. Pa was pleased and the homeowner grinned at this builder with the Dutch accent.
Rob, Rin and Tim all worked alongside Pa building ponds at some point in our lives and the work was happily extended to good friends like Paul Fessler as well.  It was dirty work but the end result was miraculous.
In June 2012 they moved to Iowa in order to enjoy a slower pace, more personalized health care and the love of a daughter.  Pa lived at home with Ma until April 2015 when he moved to Royale Meadows Care Center.  The care he received there was wonderful.
Pa had a deep curiosity about the world, thought deeply, spoke wisely, loved his wife, children and grandchildren endlessly and served his Lord all his life.

Source: Memorial Funeral Home online obituary.