Verle E. Decker

Verle E. Decker, 90, of Hollenberg, KS, died July 8, 2017 at the Beatrice Community Hospital in Beatrice, NE. Visitation will be Thursday, July 13, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Ward Funeral Home in Washington. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 14, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Washington. Graveside funeral services will be held at 1:45 p.m., Friday, at the Hollenberg City Cemetery. Verle was born October 4, 1926, at Hollenberg to William and Anna (Elder) Decker. He attended Hollenberg schools and farmed with his father, until being drafted into the U.S. Army, during World War II. He served from 1944 until being honorably discharged in 1946. He earned the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with Bronze Star Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Army of Occupation Medal. In Tillamook, Oregon on October 12, 1947, Verle married Ione June Hanenkrat. They were married 53 blessed years with 9 children. Ione died July 10, 2000. On February 14, 2004, he married Glenda Kay Thorn of Beattie. Verle was a hard worker and had many jobs. Farmer, lumber inspector, dairy man, rural mail carrier, building contractor, insurance agent, sold headstones and for over 20 years was the book man at tractor shows across the country. Verle enjoyed working with any type of wood. He made many cedar chests and loved making furniture for the grandchildren. Verle built his own home for his family. Preceding him in death were his parents; wife, Ione Decker; children, Phillip Decker, John Decker, Susan Decker and Patti Schmitz; and siblings, June Decker, Virginia Wilson and Genevieve Hanson. Survivors include his wife of 13 wonderful years, Glenda Decker; children, Douglas (Julie) Decker, Lincoln, NE, Karen (Steve) Tremblay, Washington, Nancy Byrd, Fairbury, NE, Janet Merkle, Beattie and Jim (Sheila) Decker, Wymore, NE; stepchildren, Paul Thorn, Lincoln, NE, Tammy Fisher, Paola and Sherry Hoffscheider, Utica, NE; twenty-six grandchildren and twenty-four great grandchildren. Memorial may be made to the Hollenberg Cemetery and sent in care of Ward Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Verle E. Decker, please visit our flower store.