James W. Decker

A man of honor, integrity, and sound moral character, James Decker was an extraordinary man to know and love. It was clear to see by the way he lived his life that he wholeheartedly applied himself to whatever task was at hand as he was a firm believer in the notion that anything worth doing is worth doing to the best of one’s ability. Blessed to share the majority of his life with his true love, James loved being a husband and father, but he just may have argued that there was nothing sweeter than becoming a grandfather to two granddaughters he adored. He accomplished so much to be proud of, but he was a humble man who considered his family to be his greatest legacy. He will be dearly missed and warmly remembered.

Although the decade of the 1930s was cloaked in the hardship of the Great Depression, the American spirit couldn’t be squelched. Our drive to succeed was evidenced by the completion of both the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building while the streets of New York came alive with the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was also during this time that a young couple from Johnson City, New York, was focused on an exciting time in their own lives as they were blessed with the birth of a healthy baby boy on May 4, 1938. James W. was one of three sons born to his parents, Woodrow and Cora Jane (Spencer) Decker, and was raised in the family home alongside his brothers, Edward and Tom. After our nation became entrenched in WWII overseas during the early 1940s, his father served in the Navy, which caused great worry for James as he and his father were very close. Once he was out of the service his father worked as an insurance salesman. James’ mother was a busy homemaker.

In many ways James and his brothers were typical boys of their generation. James and his father often went to baseball games and frequented Ebbets Field to watch the Brooklyn Dodgers. They also had fun going to a local hotel where they got freshly made pretzels. James attended local schools and played football at Johnson City High School. After graduating from high school he joined the Army Reserves while also earning a degree in chemistry and pulp and paper science from Syracuse University.

With his education behind him, James was ready to embark on a new and exciting path. He was hired by a company, S.D. Warren Paper Mill, right out of college, which brought him to Muskegon, Michigan, in 1962 where he would spend the remainder of his days. James made his a career there as an engineer and later as a supervisor, retiring after 35 years.

It was just a short time later that James met the love of his life. Her name was Alice Louise Danielson, and he was smitten from the moment he spotted her from across the room at Club 87 in Muskegon Heights during the early winter of 1963. James asked her to dance, and sparks flew right from the start. A whirlwind romance ensued, and it was later that summer that they were married on July 20, 1963, at the Central Reformed Church in downtown Muskegon. Their wedding day was a day they never forgot, due in part to it being an extremely hot day, which caused Alice to faint at the altar!

The newlyweds settled into their roles as husband and wife in a house they rented on Getty Street, and after a few years they purchased what would become their lifelong home on West Summit in Roosevelt Park in 1967. Together they welcomed four sons into their hearts and home: Scott in 1964, Dan in 1966, Michael in 1967, and Bruce in 1972. Although he enjoyed his work, James treasured the time he had to spend with his family. He and Alice always made Sundays a special family day complete with a big meal. Christmas Eve was another tradition they looked forward to as it was spent with family. James was an understanding father, an excellent role model, and a priceless friend to his boys. They loved playing golf together, and when they got older and they added cookouts with beverages into the mix. With a shared appreciation for sports, they also enjoyed going to the Whitecaps games and Griffins games together.

A man of many interests, James enriched his journey in numerous ways with the things he loved. He enjoyed relaxing while out fishing on his fishing boat, the SS Beer Can, often with his fishing buddy, Jack Johnston. James was a big Syracuse University sports fan and was espicially excited when the basketball team won the National Championship in 2003. Although he was not a dog lover, he did grow fond of the dog that his boys had while growing up to the point where he had a hard time when the dog needed to be put down. James also enjoyed staying busy by playing golf, reading, listening to jazz music, and keeping up on Republican politics.

Retirement looked a bit different for James than it does for some as he didn’t really slow down much. He continued to work after taking a job as a security screener at the Muskegon County Airport. James later took a job at Home Depot. Despite the fact that they lived out of state, he loved spending time with his granddaughters, Ella and Grace. Technology allowed James to spend time with them in a different way, too, as they were able to Skype at times. He was the hero of the day when he got them a trampoline for Christmas. James did have some hard times to deal with, too, as he was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2004. It was just a year later that the family was devastated with the death of James’ son, Scott, in 2005. It was in 2007 that he said goodbye to his beloved Alice.

When reflecting on the life of James Decker, words such as hardworking, disciplined, and successful come to mind, however, it will be the unending love for his family that people will remember most. He made the most of the days he was given while making priceless memories with his family and friends. James will be missed.

James W. Decker died Thursday, April 10, 2014. James’ family includes his sons, Dan Decker of Muskegon, Michael J. Decker of Holland, Bruce A. (Jennifer) Decker of VA; granddaughters, Ella & Grace Decker; brothers, Edward (Judy) Decker of NY, Tom Decker of NY; sisters-in-law, Peg (Raymond) Jacobson of Muskegon, Elaine Danielson of Roosevelt Park; brother-in-law, Robert (Margaret) Danielson of Grand Haven; many nieces and nephews. James was preceded in death by his wife, Alice and son, Scott Decker. A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, April 15, 2014, 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon. Memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.