Marilyn Joy Decker
1944 - 2015
Obituary
Marilyn Joy Decker was born to Willard
and Bertha (Stucky) Albrecht on September 3, 1944. She was baptized
on her confession of faith in the Eden Mennonite Church on June 5,
1960. On January 17, 1964 she married Ronald Decker. They celebrated
51 years of marriage this year.
Marilyn grew up on a dairy farm
southwest of Moundridge. She was active in 4-H growing up and carried
her love of 4-H with her by working at the Harvey County Extension
Office for 22 years. It was not uncommon for young 4-H'ers to share
their excitement with her about their 4-H projects. When it was time
for the Harvey County Fair you could always find Marilyn at the
fairgrounds helping to set up for the fair and encouraging the youth
with their projects.
Hard work was very common to Marilyn as
she was growing up. Although there were just 17 months between
Marilyn and her brother Keith, there were 10 and 12 years difference
respectively between Marilyn and her younger sisters Sherylene
(Shery) and (Rebecca) Becky. Marilyn easily fell into the role of
second mother to the two younger sisters due to their mother's severe
asthma at the time. As the girls grew up, the difference in their
ages faded and they became close friends with Marilyn, sharing
confidences, and often asking her for advice. Marilyn greatly valued
her friends, which was strongly evidenced by the many visitors and
strong support group that helped her through her two year battle with
cancer.
Marilyn's strong work ethic followed
her as she worked for Bethel College, the General Conference of the
Mennonite Church and later earning a real estate license. In her
spare time Marilyn also served as President of the Mid Kansas
Military Vehicle Preservation Association. Her hobby of collecting
Aladdin Lamps led her to coordinating the auction of the Aladdin
Knights National Gathering in Topeka in 2013. Doll collecting was
also a hobby. Shelves of dolls lined several walls of her basement.
She also enjoyed her FCE group Modern Mrs.
Marilyn was no stranger to adversity.
In June of 1965 she was one of many who were evacuated by boat from
the roof of the north Dillons store in Newton, where she was
employed. In June, exactly one year later she and her husband Ron
were living in Topeka, Kansas. Ron was serving in Alternative Service
when an EF-5 tornado moved through Topeka, heavily damaging the
apartment they were living in. This proved to be an avenue to
befriend Nelson and Jewel Carlson who were working to rebuild damaged
homes after the storm. The Carlson's remained as close as family
after Ron completed his service and they moved back to the Newton
area. Both couples found a love for hitting the trails in their jeeps
in both Colorado and Missouri. Those friends officially became family
when their hobby of jeeping introduced the Carlson's granddaughter,
and Marilyn's nephew who married many years later.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her
parents, an older brother Gerald, and a younger sister Margaret. She
will be missed by her husband Ron of the home; siblings, Keith (Mary)
Albrecht, Shery (Terry) Kessler, Becky (Jeff) Koller, her in-laws
Jerry & Delora Decker and Kevin and Teresa Brennan her nieces and
nephews Marty and Mark Albrecht, Christy Shirack, Alan Koller, Cory
and Jeremy Kessler, Gail Pryce and Denetta Denno, great nieces and
nephews, cousins, and a host of loving friends.
Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m.,
Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at Faith Mennonite Church in Newton,
Kansas with Pastor Rachel Siemens presiding. Visitation will be 5
p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday evening at Petersen Funeral Home with the
family receiving friends from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Burial will follow
the funeral service in Newton, Kansas.
Memorials are suggested to Hopi Mission
School Foundation in care of Petersen Funeral Home.
