Ralph Decker, Jr.

Ralph Decker Jr., 96, passed away on March 19, 2019, at Ramsey Village in Des Moines, Iowa. Born in Vincennes, Indiana on December 14, 1922 to Ralph Sr. and Dovie Pearl Birdlow Decker.

To a previous marriage, Ralph had two children, Robert and Brenda. He joined the Navy and was a 1st Class Machinist Mate on the USS Nehenta Bay CV 74. While on leave and going to school at the Great Lakes, Ralph was roller skating and struck up a conversation with a couple of girls who invited him to their home for a family Sunday dinner. After wooing the shorter sister (Doris), they dated and eventually married on the first of December.

Ralph was honorably discharged from the Navy and moved to Moline, Illinois with Doris to start their new married life. He was then transferred to Ankeny, Iowa where he opened the power plant for John Deere and was there until it closed down as, he put it, “a victim of progress.” He always said until the day he retired, he could start those boilers up and they would run just fine.

Ralph and Doris lived in Highland Oak Park (since 1950) and together they raised their daughter, Marilyn. Their home was the place where the neighborhood kids could go ice skate in the backyard, play records in the basement and they could always be talked into going sledding in the winter.

Everyone pitched in to help Ralph when there was a project – let it be pouring cement, wall papering, painting, chopping wood, tearing up shingles or laying down new ones. He shared his love of motorcycles with his family. Ralph could fix everything, and make something out of nothing. He had many grandchildren, one that was his hunting buddy. Ralph always said, “take an apple in your pocket and a gallon of water in your truck. And, you always ask permission and thank you when you leave.” Ralph also loved to vacation and visited many wonderful places over the years.

Ralph loved to tell stories. He loved to share stories about WWII, the ornery things he did in school while growing up in Indiana, and his time at John Deere. Often, the validity of his story was eclipsed by his vivacious storytelling.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph Sr. and Dovie Pearl; his wife, Doris; his sister, Ruby; his brother, LeRoy (WWII); his son, Robert; and grandson, Mark Radtke. He is survived by his sister, Nadine (Melvin) Stiles; daughters, Brenda Radtke and Marilyn (Aurelio) Barron; daughter-in-law, Frances; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, March 23, 2019, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines, with visitation starting at 1:00 p.m.

In loving memory of Ralph, memorial contributions may be directed to the family or the Iowa Patriot Guard Riders, PO BOX 152, Cumming, Iowa 50061

Sailor, rest your oar. We have the watch.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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