|
Visitation:
Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. the
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home
Service:
Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 12 p.m. at the funeral
home.
Funeral home:
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader, Lincoln
Obituary
It is with heavy hearts that we
announce that James Richard Decker, 89, of Antioch,
IL and formerly of Lincoln, IL, passed away
peacefully on January 24th, 2025, with his loving
family around him.
Jim was born on October 28, 1935, to Ferne and Elva
Decker and grew up in Lincoln, IL. At Lincoln
Community High School, he was on a championship
basketball team and was the president of his senior
class. After graduating from LCHS in 1953, he
completed his education at Brown’s Business College
in Peoria. It was during this time that he met the
love of his life, Doris Marshall, while accompanying
his sister Betty to a General Electric holiday party
in Bloomington. The fact that Jim took dancing
lessons at Arthur Murray’s Dance Studio no doubt
helped their romance along. They were married on
June 22, 1957, at Lincoln Christian Church.
Thereafter he became manager of the newly opened The
Family Shoe Store in Lincoln.
He was transferred to Kewanee, IL, to open and
manage The Family Shoe there and also in
Chillicothe, IL. It was during this time they
started a family, having two daughters a few years
apart. In Kewanee, Jim was active in the community.
He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the
Kewanee Hog Festival Committee, and the Jaycees
service organization, with whom he helped grill
hundreds of BBQ pork chops during Hog Days. He also
square-danced with Dori as members of the Kewanee
Kickers.
Eventually, Jim and his wife purchased the Kewanee
and Chillicothe stores, and finally bought the
Lincoln store, moved back, and called it Decker’s
Family Shoe. It really was a family store as both
his parents and his children worked there at times,
with his brothers and other family coming to help
out at sidewalk sales. They expanded by opening
Dori’s Shoes on the square for women and children.
He continued to be active in the Lincoln Chamber of
Commerce and served on the Hot Air Balloon Fest
Committee.
He lived out at Lincoln Lakes and
enjoyed fishing off his pontoon boat, often teaching
youngsters in the family how to bait a hook and
catch a big one.
|
He grew giant, tasty tomatoes from
seeds that were brought over by Polish immigrants,
played cards with his family and friends, and he
relished watching Cubs games while sipping on a cold
beer. Jim was a lifelong Cubs devotee. He had a
good-natured rivalry with his Cardinal fan brother
Larry, and he texted the joys and sorrows of the
Cubs games with his Cub fan brother Dan. He has a
brick paver at Wrigley Field that says “Jim Decker -
#1 Cubs Fan.” Indeed, he was. Jim and Dori retired
in 1996 and moved north to Antioch in 2013 to be
close to their daughters.
Jim is survived by his loving wife of 67 years,
Doris Decker, nee Marshall, of Antioch, IL; his
daughters, Dr. Lynn (Dr. Steven) Mershon of
Sarasota, FL, and Valerie Decker of Antioch, IL; his
grandsons, David (Julie) Mershon of Antioch, IL, and
Kevin (Dr. Katharine) Mershon of Waynesville, NC;
his brothers, Larry (Mary) Decker of Bettendorf, IA
and Dan (Joan) Decker of Dubuque, IA; and many
beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was
preceded in death by his parents, Elva & Ferne (nee
Baker) Decker, and his sister, Betty (the late
Kermit) DeJarnette.
Jim Decker was a kind, funny, and gentle man who
loved his family deeply. He was an exemplary
husband, father, brother and son. He was a caring
and helpful neighbor and a great friend. He had a
clever sense of humor and a talent for seeing the
good in people. He is profoundly missed.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June
21, 2025, at the Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral
Home, 127 S. Logan, Lincoln, IL, 62656. Visitation
will be from 10:00am to 12:00pm. The service will
begin at noon. There will be a Celebration of Life
held as well in Antioch, IL, later in the year.
Details for Antioch will be forthcoming.
Memorial donations can be made to the American Heart
Association or the Humane Society of Logan County.
Click here to send a note of condolence to the family of James
Richard Decker
|
