Obituary of John E. Decker

John E. "Jack" Decker John E. "Jack" Decker of Poughkeepsie passed away peacefully on October 13, 2007 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. He was 90. Born in Kingston on July 22, 1917, he was the son of Emmett and Jeannette Finch Decker. On September 12, 1942 he married Elnora Burger in Kingston; they recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Jack was employed by Texaco in Beacon for 35 years until his retirement in 1977. He was also an avid skier and tennis player, remaining active in local competition well into his eighties. He won many events and won even more friends. His life was one of "narrow escapes and happy landings" as predicted in his Kingston High School yearbook. In addition to his wife, Elnora at home, he is survived by two sons and their wives, John C. and Anne W. Decker of Chestnut Hill, MA, and Robert E. and Suzanne Decker of Portola Valley, CA; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many cousins in Kingston and the Hudson Valley. Family will receive their friends on Tuesday, October 16 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 E. Main St., Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. A funeral service will follow visitation at 12 noon at the funeral home with Rev. Cathy Surgenor officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Jack's name to the Alzheimer's Association, 2 Jefferson Plaza, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or the Mohonk Preserve, PO Box 715, New Paltz, NY 12561. For directions to the funeral home or to send the family a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.