Dennis Ray Decker transitioned in his home at Seminole Gardens, Seminole, Florida. Born on June 15, 1943, to Carl and Bernie Decker in Dubuque, Iowa, growing up on the family farm in Lamont, Iowa. There he found joy in the natural world that surrounded him, taking pride in a job well done, having many fond memories working alongside his parents, siblings and local farmers.
Dennis graduated from Lamont High School in 1961. He was the first of three Decker Water Safety Instructors at The Backbone State Park Lake and the first of the Decker family to attend college with a baseball and football scholarship, where he received a Business degree from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa. He was proud to also be Lamont’s first “health nut” as he would say with a smile, always sharing leading edge nutritional information; but the most content very slowly eating and enjoying his mother’s breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and home-raised hog bacon and sausage. He joined the Marine Reserves during the Viet Nam war, proudly living the “Duty and Honor” lifestyle of the Marines. Dennis’s love of adventure took him around the world, traveling “fourth class,” camping and living frugally, but always discovering the best of cultures, even the Soviet Union during the cold war. He spent his business career in various manufacturing companies and a volunteer with local YMCAs.
Dennis was known as “The Coach” in the Decker family, playing catch, basketball, golf and water sports with his siblings, improving their skills and instructing them how to properly iron and fold his signature Oxford shirts, to teach them how to dress for success. During Florida hot summers, Dennis would coach his nieces and nephews, perfecting their swim strokes and cannon ball dives. He also had a knack and love for cars, staying abreast of the newest to the oldest models, owning the first convertible VW in Lamont.
Most important to Denny was his family, faith and his “farm roots” which always remained the basis of his life, saying he was a combination of “Old School” and Universal.
Dennis is survived by his six siblings who loved him very much, and many nieces and nephews who were proud to call him “Uncle.”
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