Individual

Go to List of Family Names Go to List of People    < Previous Next >

Birth:          18 Sep 1950 Kalamazoo, Mich.
Death:          30 Jul 2005 Gull Lake, Kalamazoo Co., Mich.

Notes
!PUBL
Decker Fam Tree on ancestry
DECKER, Thomas W. "Tom" 
Age 54 of Hickory Corners 
Died , July 30, 2005, at Gull Lake where he resided. Tom was born in Kalamazoo, 
Michigan on September 18, 1950. He is survived by his sister, Mary White (Joe), his 
brother Dave Decker (Mary Ellen), and his brother Joe Decker (Nancy). He is also 
survived by his dearest friends, Ann and Don Parfet. Tom was preceded in death by 
his mother, Nancy Jean Vanderberg, his father, Ben Decker, and by a brother and 
sister, Flip and Margie Decker. Tom was much loved by his four nieces and nephews, 
Amy Koenig, John Decker, Brian White, and Audrey Imhoff. Tom grew up in Kalamazoo 
and attended University High School. He graduated from Georgetown Preparatory 
School in Bethesda, Maryland. He earned his bachelors degree from the University of 
Arizona and his M.B.A. from the University of Michigan Business School. Tom worked 
with his brother, Dave, to build a successful agribusiness company, Far-Mor Flavors. 
He believed in developing himself and helped others develop themselves, through his 
work with ISA in Chicago. He enjoyed life. He also reached out to help others in many 
ways, including serving Thanksgiving dinners in soup kitchens and working in the 
Desert AIDS project in Palm Springs, California. Tom had an extraordinary collection of 
close friends he made and kept throughout his life. His love for them was fully 
reciprocated, never more so than during his final months. Many have expressed the 
great and positive difference that Tom made in their lives through his friendship, 
caring and support. Tom was an extremely special person. He is remembered by all for 
his devotion to his friends, his thoughtfulness, his wonderful sense of humor, his great 
flair and sense of fashion, his hats, and his wonderful companion dogs, Toto and 
Maude. A reception for friends and family will be held at 4911 Ridgewood Drive, 
Hickory Corners, Michigan at Gull Lake, on August 3, 2005 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 
There will be a memorial service to remember Tom and celebrate his life immediately 
following the reception at 11000 Ridgewood Drive, Hickory Corners at Gull Lake. 
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Greater Kalamazoo, 301 W. Cedar 
St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007-5106 in memory of Tom. Arrangements by FARLEY-ESTES & 
DOWDLE RICHLAND CHAPEL 9170 East "D" Ave. (M-89) 
 Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com 
Kalamazoo Gazette (MI) - Monday, August 1, 2005 

Parents
DECKER Joseph Benedict (15 Sep 1922 - 24 Jun 1996)
KNAPPEN Nancy Jean (9 Feb 1922 - 24 Jun 1998)

Siblings
DECKER Joseph Benedict (16 Jan 1945 - 12 Jun 2007)
DECKER Charles David ("C. David") ()
DECKER Mary P. ()
DECKER Thomas William (18 Sep 1950 - 30 Jul 2005)
DECKER Donald Philip ("Flip") (31 May 1952 - 19 Feb 1976)
DECKER Margery (26 Jan 1957 - 27 Mar 1959)

Produced by Fzip 1.7 2/10/2021