James Richard Decker

Jim Decker, 87 of Winterset, Iowa entered eternal rest Friday, February 3, 2023 at Azria Health in Winterset. Memorial services will be 11 AM, Monday, February 13, 2023 at Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center, Creston, Iowa. Rev. Jaysson Gurwell will officiate. The family will receive friends 9:30 – 10:30 AM prior to the service. A luncheon will be served by the Lorimor American Legion Auxiliary following the service at the Lorimor Community Center. Jim will be laid to rest in the Barney Cemetery, northeast of Lorimor, at a later date. Memorial contributions may be directed to EveryStep Hospice Winterset Team. Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

James Richard Decker was born November 25, 1935 in Madison County, Iowa, the 5th of 9 children born to James Elmer and Grace (Kirsch) Decker. He was raised on the family farm where he learned to work hard and began a life-long love for farming. Jim was educated in the Lorimor schools and graduated from Lorimor High School. In 1959, Jim was united in marriage to Deloma Sampson in Knoxville, Iowa. The couple would be blessed with 3 children: David, James and Michelle. The couple were later divorced.

Jim loved farming, raising livestock and being a steward of the land. The farming operation included farms in Union, Clarke and Madison counties. While still married, Jim and Deloma co-owned and operated restaurants and taverns in Murray and Lorimor. Grandpa Jim’s passion the last several years was going to auctions and buying things he wanted. He once bought a stack of piano music books to give to his great-grandchildren because he loved watching them play the piano. On March 6, 2020, Jim’s home on the farm for many years, was destroyed by fire and Jim moved to assisted living at Madison Square in Winterset, Iowa. Everyone there welcomed him with open arms and love. The care he received was amazing and all the residents and staff were like his extended family. Since the end of December 2022, Jim was cared for by EveryStep Hospice and their amazing team until his death. Jim was moved to Azria Health on January 11, 2023 and the care he received there was exceptional as well. Jim was not one to say “I love you”, you were supposed to know you were loved. If you said to him “I love you”, he would say “you better love me”. A couple days before he passed, he told his family “I love all my brothers and sisters”. Jim was assured that they loved him too.

Jim was preceded in death by his daughter, V. Michelle Williams; a granddaughter, Vicki Lynn Decker; his parents; 5 brothers: Gene (Virginia), Joe, Dale, Dean (Dorothy) and Lee Decker; a sister, Lois Dillinger (Richard); and brother-in-law, Johnny Porter.

Jim is survived by 2 sons: David D. (Norma) Decker of Adair, Iowa and James D. (Karen) Decker of Lorimor, Iowa; son-in-law, Rick Williams of Murray, Iowa; 9 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandchildren. Jim is also survived by a brother, Everett (Dixie) Decker of Peru, Iowa; a sister, Marie Porter of Osceola, Iowa; 3 sisters-in-law: Phyllis Decker of Winterset, Iowa; Dayna Nuzum of Winterset, Iowa and Carolyn Decker of Lorimor, Iowa; and by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.