Vernon A. Decker, 89
Vernon A. Decker, 89, of Marshalltown, IA, passed away Wednesday, July 17, 2019, at the Iowa River Hospice House in Marshalltown. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 22, 2019, at St. Francis of Assisi – St. Henry Catholic Church in Marshalltown. Visitation will be 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a 5:00 p.m. Vigil service, Sunday, July 21, 2019, at Anderson Funeral Homes in Marshalltown. Entombment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown. Memorials may be directed to St. Francis of Assisi Parish or Iowa River Hospice. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com.
Vernon A. Decker was born July 24, 1929, to Oscar and Magdalen Ursula (Ludowese) Decker in Elkton, South Dakota. He graduated from Emmetsburg Catholic High School in Emmetsburg, IA. Vernon then enlisted in active duty of the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. On February 12, 1955, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth “Betty” Schiltz at St. John’s Catholic Church in Bancroft, IA. To this union, three children were born: Mary, Joyce and Vera. Vernon farmed on the family farm near Emmetsburg until the family moved to Marshalltown in 1964 when he began working at Ottilie Seed Farm. In 1966, he began working at Fisher Controls for 25 years until retirement in 1992. After retirement, Vernon enjoyed being a funeral assistant at Vogel Funeral Home, volunteering for Meals on Wheels and assisting with House of Compassion. He was a member of St. Henry’s Catholic Church where he served on the Parish Council, Knights of Columbus and the Frank Lewis Glick American Legion Post 46. In his free time, Vernon loved gardening, playing cards and watching Iowa State sporting events.
Vernon will be missed by his wife, Betty, of Marshalltown; two daughters: Mary (Michael) Ruopp and Joyce (Mark) Sanders, both of Marshalltown; 11 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and two sisters: Dolores LaBrie, of Shawnee, OK, and Louise Leuer, of Emmetsburg, IA.
Vernon was preceded in death by a daughter, Vera Peglow; grandson Todd Peglow; granddaughter-in-law Amy Sanders, sisters: Mary and Gene Zitzlesperger, Ethel and Norman Williams, Leola and Raymond Noreen and Kathleen and Kenneth Graesing and two brothers-in-law, Roland LaBrie and John Leuer.