Glenn Decker

Glenn Nolan Decker, age 91, of McPherson, died February 1, 2007, in Hutchinson, Kansas. He was born July 17, 1915, on a farm near Moundridge, Kansas to Jacob and Ida (Schmidt) Decker. He graduated from eighth grade at Happy Hollow country school near Moundridge. Glenn always lamented the fact he did not get to attend high school because his parents needed him to work on the farm. In Glenn's teenage years, he did some share cropping and worked in the oil field with his favorite team of horses, Mike and Doc.

At age 22, Glenn married Gladys Holmes in 1937 and started cattle and wheat farming a few miles from the Decker family homestead. They moved to the Burns community a few years later where he farmed for 39 years. When he went into semi-retirement from farming and sold his cattle, he went to work for the Kansas Turnpike Authority at the Cassoday toll exchange and worked there five years. In 1979, they moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas and lived there in retirement for twelve years. In 1991, they moved to McPherson to The Cedars retirement community. After 59 years of marriage, Gladys preceded Glenn in death as well as daughter, Myna Sue, two great-grandsons, and all his siblings, Orville, LaVerne, Dwight, Dwayne, Twila Decker, and Inez Huxman.

Glenn served on the Burns Independent School District Board for eight years. He was a member of the Farm Bureau, National Farmers Organization, and the Burns Co-op during his farming years. He was an avid sports fan, both watching and participating. He helped organize the Burns men's softball team and developed a mean curve ball as their star pitcher. In Arkansas, he and Gladys were on two bowling teams and Glenn did a lot of fishing. He was an active participant on the pool team at the McPherson Senior Center. Glenn will always be known as a man who kept his word, his "let's get it done attitude" and his magnificent zest for life. He will be greatly missed by family and friends. Glenn has been a member of the First Christian Church since returning to McPherson.

His survivors include: his daughter, Marjorie Chambers and husband, James, of Katy, Texas; two sons, Nolan Decker and wife, Chanda, of Enid, Oklahoma and Marlin Decker and wife, Rose, of Katy, Texas; nine grandchildren, Myrna Rychlik, Brenda Francis, Annette Franklin, Todd Decker, Tyler Decker, Ashley Decker, Wayne Decker, Darlene King, and Peggy Myers; 17 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Sadie Decker and Velma Decker; and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, February 7, 2007, at the First Christian Church in McPherson. Interment will follow at 2:30 PM at Ebenezer Methodist Church Cemetery in Burns, Kansas. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, at Stockham Family Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be given to The Cedars or McPherson Senior Center, both in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Glenn Decker please visit our Sympathy Store.