Donald E. Decker

DECKER, Donald E.
Kalamazoo Died July 28, 2013 at age 77. Don was born June 27, 1936 in Kalamazoo to the late Richard W. and Ruth E. Jenney Decker. He was united in marriage to Lydia Kutschera for 55 loving years. Don served in the U.S. Army from February of 1954 until honorably discharged in February of 1957. Among his service awards include the National Defense Medal and Good Conduct award. Don graduated in 1963 from Ray Vogue in Chicago with a degree in Interior Design. He then acquired the highest level of a Professional Ballroom Dance Instructor with both Arthur Murray and Fred Astaire Studios. All along raising his growing family. He then returned to Kalamazoo and opened his own business, Artistic Interiors but his love for ballroom dance never waned. He then founded Studio 33 Ltd., which is now celebrating its 23rd anniversary. Among his many hobbies included travel, ice skating, painting and drawing but most of all his love for the art of bull-fighting. He is a proud graduate of the only school of trained matadors in the United States. Don will be missed by his family and friends. Don is survived by his wife, Lydia Decker of Kalamazoo; children, Dewayne Christine Decker, Debra John Marsack, Dorothy Decker and Kirk Decker; grandsons, Eric Sparks and Troy Decker; granddaughters, Jessica Cody Patterson, Terra Josh Haveman and Chrissy Joseph Coburn; great grandchildren, Savannah Ballentine, Jack Patterson and Traverse Haveman; brother, Earl Jane Decker; sister-in-law, Margaret Decker; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral service will take place on Friday, 10:00 am at Zion Lutheran Church, 2122 Bronson Blvd., Kalamazoo, where family will greet friends from 9-10:00 am. A private interment will be at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. Arrangements by the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel, 411 East Centre Ave. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, Loaves & Fishes or to the Mayo Clinic.