James (Jim) Rial Decker was born Sept. 4, 1946, in Denver, Colo., to his parents, James Edward and Beverly (Schwab) Decker. He died March 3, 2022 at Mary Lanning Hospital, Hastings, surrounded by his family.
Jim's parents were divorced when he was very young with Jim living with his mother in Denver during the school year and spending the summers with his dad. The courts let him decide where he wanted to live when he was 12, 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 Sept.15, 1968. Their daughter, Michele, was born Oct. 11, 1975. Jim did not have a normal childhood and he made sure 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 Rhea. Their band was well known in Northern Kansas and Southern Nebraska. After the birth of his daughter, he felt he needed 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 successful cow-calf operation, his real joy was having the fields ready for planting, watching the crops grow and reaping a bountiful harvest. His last wheat and soybean crops produced the best harvest he had ever achieved. He knew he had finished his last crops on a high note. Jim enjoyed trapshooting and 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 liked all sports, especially watching Husker Football, Kansas Basketball, Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals.
Jim is survived by Sondra, his wife of 53 years, daughter, Dr. Michele Durr, and her husband, Dave.
He was preceded in death by his father, James E. Decker; his in-laws, Clyde and Inez Reed; and brother-in-law Richard Reed.
Visitation was held from 1 to 8 p.m., Monday, March 7, with the family receiving friends from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Melby Mortuary, Mankato.
His funeral was held at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 8, at the Harmony United Methodist Church, Mankato, with Pastor Jim Rice officiating. Burial was in the Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak. Military honors were provided by the Burr Oak and Esbon, American Legion and VFW organizations along with Ft. Riley Big Red One.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Webster County Community Hospital, Red Cloud, Neb., in care of Melby Mortuary, PO Box 284, Mankato, Kan. 66956. For online condolences, please visit http://www.melby mortuary.com.
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