Person:Douglas Decker (1)

Donna Corcoran has that he was born in West Branch, Michigan and that he died March 26, 1990 in Flint, Michigan. She also has: Burial:Sunset Hills Cemetary,Genesee Co.,Mich. Cause of Death:Kidney failure,was on dialysis for about 6-7 yrs. and it wasn't doing any good. He was a veteran of World War II, was wounded in the arm, while stationed in New Guenie, from hand grenades, being tossed at him, while gathering things. He was everything from Pvt., Pvt.1st Class, Corp., or Sgt., depending on what he had done, good or bad. He was an avid outdoorsman, golfed, fished, rifle hunted, bow hunted, and just liked being outdoors. He was also a very good all around handyman. We never called a repair man to our house, he fixed it or built it. He and Floyd Funk (his nephew) built a boat in our backyard, in Flint, and took it down the Flint River, to Aunt Mary's farm out on Seymour Rd. He and wife, Ioma, traveled all over the good old USA, right up until he went on dialysis. But, they still remained active and tried to make all their grandsons events. He could be as loud and ornery as any Decker, but also very good, and kind hearted, always there when anyone needed him. He retired from General Motors, Truck & Bus, in 1981, and prior to working there he worked for Eddies Amusement (repairing juke boxes & pin ball games; then for Marshall's TV, as a repairman; then he became a steel worker, and was to go work on the mighty Mac. Bridge, decided it wasn't worth it, and hired in to G.M. Physical appearance, dark complexion, dark almost black, thick hair (until 35 yrs.old, then it disappeared, dark brown eyes, about 5'8" tall, and about 150#, dark brown eyes, rugged good looks as a young man. This is a poem he found somewhere and sent my Mom: I think of home,so far away Across the ocean wide I want to live to see that day When I am on that beautiful side And there's, a girl I love her so I think of her each day I write to her so she will know I love her along the way But,there are times when all is blue And life seems like a dream Things happen as they seem And there's mama, old and gray In her rocking chair each day How I wish I were near A prayer for me I'd hear So that home, my thoughts are there My body and self is here But, I'll keep my trust and never fear For some day I'll be there

He was a member of the Masonic Temple and then a 32nd degree Shriner, he belonged to the Minie Car Squad (a little orange Corvette) and performed in lots of parades. He got out of that and joined the Motor Cycle Brigade and performed in a lot more parades, his grandsons, Vance and Eric, loved to go watch their grandpa in the parades. He also took Vance up Bow Hunting his first time, and I believe that was about the last bow hunting trip for grandpa, but he still liked to go up to the camp site and talk to the guys about their hunting. D.Corcoran

Enlisted in the U.S. Army infantry on Oct. 15, 1940 at Flint, Michigan. It says he was born in Genesee County, Michigan in 1918. He was single at the time and was 5'6" and 131 lbs.

1. ↑ Carolyn Hubbard.
2. ↑ 1930 Census of Flint, Genesee County, Michigan ED number 89
   p. 3B.
3. ↑ Carolyn Hubbard.
4. ↑ 1930 Census of Flint, Genesee County, Michigan ED number 89
   p. 2B.
5. ↑ Social Security Death Index.
6. ↑ Michigan Deaths, 1971-96 at Ancestry.com.
7. ↑ Social Security Death Index.
8. ↑ Michigan Deaths, 1971-96 at Ancestry.com.