James (Jim) R. Decker

James (Jim) Rial Decker

September 4, 1946 – March 3, 2022

Jim was born September 4, 1946 in Denver, Colorado to his parents James Edward and Beverly (Schwab) Decker and died March 3, 2022 at Mary Lanning Hospital, Hastings, NE surrounded by his family.

Jim’s parents were divorced when he was very young with Jim liv ing with his mother in Denver during the school year and spe nding the summers with his dad.  The courts let him decide where he wanted to live when he was twelve and he chose his dad.  He never saw his mother again .

Jim attended Burr Oak Grade School and High School and graduated from Mankato High School in May 1965.  He attended Fort Hays State College for a year and then joined the Kansas Army National Guard where he achieved the rank as Platoon Sergeant .

Jim married Sondra Reed on September 15, 1968.  Their daughter, Michele, was born October 11, 1975.  Jim did not have a normal childhood and he made sure that Sondra and Michele had all the love possible from a husband and father.

After Jim and Sondra were married, he played in a country swing band with Kenny R h ea.  Their band was well known in Northern Kansas and Southern Nebraska .  After the birth of his daughter he felt that he needed to spend more time with his family.  He did continue to perform in public and people still remember his drum solos in church

Living with his father, Jim developed an interest in and the skills needed to succeed as a farmer.  Although he had a very successful cow-calf operation, his real joy was having the fields ready for planting, watching the crops grow , and reaping a bountiful harvest.  H is last wheat and soybean crops produced the best harvest that he had ever achieved.  He knew he had finished his last crops on a high note.

Jim loved trapshooting and enjoyed the Kansas State Shoot and the Fall and Spring Grands in Tucson. He felt especially fortunate to be able to shoot and fish with Michele and her husband, Dave.

Jim loved history and he and Sondra were able to visit many places in Europe and the Mediterranean.  His favorite places were the Colosseum in Rome , the Giza Pyramids and Nuremberg, Germany.

Jim loved all sports especially watching Husker Football, Kansas Basketball, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Kansas City Royals.

Jim is survived by Sondra, his wife of fifty-three years , daughter , Dr. Michele Durr , and her husband Dave.

He was preceded in death by his father James E. Decker, his inlaws Clyde and Inez Reed, and brother-in-law Richard Reed.

Visitation will be held on Monday, March 7, 2022 from 1-8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 6-7 p.m. at the Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 8, at 1:30 p.m., at the Harmony United Methodist Church, Mankato, Kansas with Pastor Jim Rice officiating. Burial will be held at the Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak, Kansas.  Military Honors will be provided by the Burr Oak and Esbon, American Legion and VFW organizations along with Ft. Riley Big Red One, Ft. Riley, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Webster County Community Hospital, Red Cloud, NE. in care of  Melby Mortuary, PO Box 384, Mankato, KS 66956. For online condolences, please visit, www.melbymortuary.com