Julia M. Decker

SUN CITY WEST, Ariz. — Julia Mae Decker, 76, of Sun City West, passed away early in the morning on Tuesday (Oct. 27, 2009) with her loving husband by her side.
Julia was born on May 26, 1933, to Julius and Martha Rutschman of Whitewater. She was the youngest of nine children, seven girls and two boys. She grew up on the family farm and went to Whitewater High School, where she was a cheerleader for four years and graduated in 1951.
Julia met her future husband, Glennon Decker, on a blind date in 1952. They married on April 25, 1953, in Newton and were married for 56 and one-half years at the time of her death.
In Julia’s early years, she worked for Dillons in Newton. As their family grew, she became very active in the children’s activities, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, many sporting activities and various schools’ PTAs.
During their marriage, Julia and Glennon lived in eight cities and moved nine times. They lived in Clarksville, Tenn.; Newton; Arvada, Colo.; Carrollton, Texas; Hesston; St. Charles, Ill.; Lancaster, Penn.; London, England; and Sun City West. One of her favorite locations was London. She enjoyed the city life and was actively involved in the American Women’s Club. She also enjoyed traveling Europe, especially Switzerland, while there.
Julia had many passions in life; the most important was her family. She loved to cook, especially Thanksgiving dinner with all of her family around her. She has passed many recipes to her family members that are continuously used and always will be made with her memory. She also loved to go camping in the Colorado Rockies, play bridge and beautifully decorate each new home they moved to, even wishing she had pursued a career in interior decorating. She always made sure the kids were comfortable and situated in their new schools and activities. Glennon need never worry.
Julia is survived by her husband, Glennon; her sons, Michael, Bradley and Terry; her daughter, Dea Anna; 16 grandchildren, 10 boys and six girls; three great-grandchildren, two boys and one girl; two sisters, Bernice and Lorene; and one brother, Marvin.
She was preceded in death by her four sisters; one brother; one grandson; and her beloved daughter, Janna.
Julia led a very full and active life. Her family will miss her terribly. In memory of her wonderful life, a memorial fund has been established in her name with the National Alzheimer’s Association.
Burial was today at Restlawn Gardens of Memory in Newton.