Robert Decker

ROBERT DECKER

Cedar Rapids

Robert Decker, 84, passed away in his home on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, surrounded by his loving family after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Until the very end, Dad kept that big smile his family and friends will always remember. Services will be held at Cedar Memorial with Lyle Beaver officiating. Visitation to be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories Stateroom. Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Burial will follow the funeral service in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Dad was born in the family farm house in Clarence, Iowa, on Aug. 14, 1932, to Robert and Anita (Hunwardsen) Decker. This farm was listed as a Century Farm. He attended Clarence Community School graduating in 1950. After graduation, Dad worked on the farm with his father. In 1953, he entered the service for the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1955. Danceland in Cedar Rapids was a favorite place for Dad and his cousin, Johnny, to go and it was there he met his wife, Marilyn Smrcek. They married in 1954. They had two daughters, Deborah Loring and Sue Carter.

Robert worked at Iowa Manufacturing in Cedar Rapids for a year and then became a plumber's apprentice. He was a member of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 125. He retired from plumbing in 1996. His wife, Marilyn, passed away in 1999. It was while attending widow/widowers he met a special friend, Thelma Goettsch.

Dad was a gifted woodworker, craftsman and was known to be "the guy who could fix" anything. Dad was most happy while helping others. He loved wintering in Texas, dancing, traveling to Mexico and telling a joke or playing a prank on someone. A highlight was when Dad was able to go on the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

He is survived by his two daughters, Deborah (Jeffrey) Loring, their daughter, Heather (Dario) Dixby of Sebring, Fla., their children, Dallison and DaLayne; and Sue (Barry) Carter and their daughter, Samantha of Coralville. His sisters, Kathryn (Richard) Wilson of Pella and Helen (Reggie) Jennings of Tipton; and his special friend, Thelma Goettsch of Cedar Rapids, also survive.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn; parents, Robert and Anita Decker; brother, Richard; father- and mother-in-law, Charles and Elsie Smrcek; Marilyn's twin sister, Carolyn Junge, and her husband, Richard of Keystone; and many beloved aunts and uncles from the Clarence area.

Memorial donations, if you wish, may be directed to the University of Iowa Cancer Center, Honor Flight of Iowa, Hospice of Iowa City or Hospice of Cedar Rapids.

The family wishes to thank the medical staff at the University of Iowa Cancer Center, Diane Norton and all the staff at UnityPoint Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Hospice in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids and all the doctors, nurses, pharmacists and special staff who provided compassionate care to Dad. We will always be grateful to each one of you for your part of Dad's care. Finally, if anyone knows who put the two wicker chairs on the roof of the next door neighbor's house, please step forward. After 45 years, Bob would never tell and maintained his innocence.