Bill Decker

A kind and humble gentleman, Bill Decker lived a life rooted in service, family, and friendship. Bill was intelligent and wise, using his gifts to serve others; he was very proud of his public service in the military and as a federal judge. Whether working, cheering on his loved ones' endeavors, traveling, reading, or enjoying a home-cooked meal, Bill embraced life. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Bill was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

Lawrence and Meta (Schultz) Decker welcomed their son Bill on March 30, 1943, in Defiance, Ohio. Bill's earliest years were spent in Defiance before the family moved to Kent, Ohio; Jackson, Michigan; and Kokomo, Indiana. His father worked as a farm manager for a bank, a feed salesman, and a real estate broker, while his mother was a secretary in an insurance office for many years before becoming a sales clerk at J.C. Penney. Despite the challenges posed by his older sister Martha's special needs, which made traveling difficult, the family enjoyed memorable trips to visit relatives in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Holidays were often celebrated at Grandfather Decker's farm near Bluffton, Indiana, and later at the family's home in Kokomo.

A bright and curious child, Bill found some innocent mischief in his early years, such as smoking at age six and marching around the kitchen table with the Stokie Twins. His honesty was revealed when he confessed to knowing where the matches were because he had taken them for cigarettes. Meta restrained a charging Lawrence with the words, "Well, at least he told us the truth.”

Bill attended Bloomfield Elementary School in Jackson, Michigan, then Wallace Elementary and Central Junior High. As a student at Kokomo High School, he became class treasurer and enjoyed singing in the school choir. Naturally athletic, Bill played football, basketball, and baseball. He was a proud member of the 1961 Indiana State High School championship basketball team and was named second all-state shortstop in the Babe Ruth League.

After graduating as salutatorian from high school, Bill continued his education at DePauw University. He joined Phi Beta Kappa and spent a semester abroad at Freiburg University in Germany, also studying at the London School of Economics. Bill then attended the University of Chicago Law School on a full scholarship, earning his Juris Doctorate (JD).

Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army on the delayed entry program and was inducted in 1968. His service began at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for basic training. He continued his training at The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. After six months of training, he was commissioned as a captain in the JAG Corps and assigned to the 4th Army headquarters in San Antonio, Texas. Following a Fellowship in Forensic Medicine at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Bill served as legal counsel to the Physical Evaluation Board at Valley Forge General Army Hospital in Pennsylvania.

After his military service, Bill entered private law practice in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He later became a federal administrative law judge for Social Security, serving in Columbus, Ohio, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, eventually becoming the chief judge in Grand Rapids.

Bill was the proud father of his son, Jonathan, and daughter, Katelyn. While playing in a singles tennis group at Fountain Street Church, Bill met Wanda. After dating for about a year, the couple married on October 20, 1990, at the Maplewood Hotel in Saugatuck, Michigan. Bill welcomed Wanda's daughter, Kate, into his family and became a beloved stepdad. Following a honeymoon in Indiana and Kentucky, the newlyweds settled in Jenison, Michigan.

Bill found joy in Wanda's home cooking, golfing, tennis, and cheering for the Detroit Lions and Tigers. He sang with the Schubert Male Chorus, serving as its president and board member. A lifelong learner, Bill enjoyed reading The New Yorker and Harper’s, teaching himself German, and attempting to master the keyboard.

Bill and Wanda traveled extensively, particularly delighting in the Provence region of France. In retirement, he cherished spending time with family, especially his grandchildren. His life experiences became wonderful stories that he loved sharing with them and his friends. A free thinker in his later years, Bill valued the mystery of life more than any attempt to explain it.

As we celebrate Bill's extraordinary life, may we find comfort in our treasured memories and be inspired by his legacy of learning, service, and adventure.

William Edward Decker, age 81, of Jenison, passed away on December 17, 2024. Born March 30, 1943, in Defiance, Ohio, to the late Lawrence and Meta (Schultz) Decker, Bill was a kind and humble gentleman who took pride in his public service as a military officer and federal judge. A member of the 1961 Kokomo High School basketball state championship team, he was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

Bill is survived by his wife of 34 years, Wanda; his son, Jonathan (Lesley) Decker, and their daughter, Cleo; his daughter, Katelyn Decker; his stepdaughter, Kate (Ryan) Wood, and their children, Micah, Canaan, Joe, Catherine “Kiki,” and Charlotte. According to his wishes, cremation has taken place. A private graveside service will be held in Oregon, Ohio.

The family wishes to thank the Shy Guys and other close friends for their love and support of Bill, as well as the caregivers at Rivertown Ridge Memory Care. Memorials may be made to Paws With a Cause in Wayland, Michigan. To read more of Bill’s life story, leave a memory, or sign the guestbook, please visit www.heritagelifestory.com.