Martin Decker 99, Dickinson, died Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson. Martin’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 21, 2014 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Fr. Keith Streifel as the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Pius Cemetery, Schefield. Visitation will be on Friday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, with a St. Pius Verein rosary & parish vigil at 7 p.m., with Deacon Al Schwindt presiding.
Loving and caring dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, brother, uncle, godfather, and friend. Having a parent for so long makes you secretly hope that life will make an exception with you, then it happens, and the final layer of childhood is seared away for good.
Martin Decker was born June 25, 1914 on the family farm near Schefield, in Stark County, the son of Peter and Rosa (Froelich) Decker. He was raised and lived his entire life on this farm except the last few years due to health reasons. He moved to Dickinson and lived at Park Avenue Villa before becoming a resident of the St. Benedict’s Health Center.
Martin was united in marriage to Margaret “Maggie” Binstock on October 17, 1939 at St. Pius Catholic Church, Schefield. He loved going fishing, boating, playing cards, horseshoes, bowling, riding the Harley, playing and watching baseball, playing the accordion and piano, and last but not least shooting pool. His love was farming and had wished he could have farmed to his dying day. He was a member of the St. Pius Verein, St. Anthony’s, German-Hungarian, and the KC’s.
Martin is survived by his eight children, Tim (Pat) Decker, Becker, Minn., Bob Decker, Eugene, Ore., Richard (Vicki) Decker, Gladstone, Gerald (Diane) Decker, Dickinson, Carol (Denny Lynch) Decker, Dickinson, Nancy (Frank) Krebs, Hardin, Mont., Leon (Connie) Decker, Gladstone, and Don (Della) Decker, Dickinson; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law, Ethel Binstock, Dickinson, and Albina Power, Irving, Texas. He was preceded in death by his wife, Maggie on September 26, 1998; his parents; two sisters; and seven brothers.
