Karen Faith Dekker

Karen was born on July 4, 1943 to parents Grant and Georgia Jacobson in Chicago, Illinois. She was raised in Kalamazoo and Bloomingdale, Michigan. As a young girl, her mother purchased a new spinet piano at the advice of the store owner based on Karen’s hand size and ability to carry a tune in singing. This led to ten years of lessons with a retired WMU music professor. She continued playing in public events and churches for 65+ years. In high school she began teaching private piano lessons. The earning would go toward completion of her registered nurse’s training.

Karen graduated from Butterworth School of Nursing in 1965, while working weekends at Lakeview Hospital in Paw Paw, Michigan. Her first employed position was with Lakeview Hospital after successful completion of licensure requirements.

Two years later, Karen attended Grand Rapids Baptist College and lived in an apartment she shared with Ruth Meyering Pierson and Betty Gates, both Butterworth nursing classmates. She completed a bachelor’s degree after her marriage.

Ruth Meyering had dated Lee Dekker and introduced Karen to him. This introduction resulted in a happy marriage on March 23, 1968 - one that would last 51+ years.

Early married life was in the Holland, MI area where Lee had been raised. In 1970, a precious daughter was born. Sharon Joy has been Lee and Karen's pride and joy and a true blessing in their lives. Added blessing came in Sharon’s marriage to Greg Hewitt in 2004. A grandson, Gavin John Hewitt, was born in 2009, and he gave Karen the deepest joy anyone could possibly have on earth.

Karen’s educational background included graduation from RN Training, Bachelor of Religious Education, Master of Public Administration, as well as a Ph.D. in Healthcare Administration. She enjoyed and was challenged by her career, but walking with the Lord and family were her priorities.

She enjoyed extensive traveling with Lee and Sharon, music, and serving the public in many ways. She had a servant’s heart and enjoyed encouraging and supporting others with kindness and understanding.

Friends from 4th grade on, from nurse’s training, and from areas of residence through the years were valuable to her. They were her family.

Surviving Karen are her loving husband Lee, daughter Sharon, son-in-law Greg, and precious grandson Gavin John. She also has one surviving cousin.

If here in person Karen would tell you the greatest thing in life is loving and serving the Lord. Her life was one of confidence and faith in her Savior, Jesus Christ for all things. She loved to pray and kept a Prayer List for many years, recording many life-changing answers. Nothing compared with or rivaled the place God had in her heart and mind. Her confidence was in God alone.

Gone, and in the presence of the Lord, but soon to be met by her loving and precious husband, daughter, grandson, and son-in-law.

In Lieu of Flowers:

First Baptist Church Sun Lakes

9535 E Riggs Road

Sun Lakes AZ 85248

Or online at fbcsl.org/give

Designated to Missions Fund