Decker, Emil H. (1889-1945)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1946 Feb 19 p. 13

Birth date: 1889 Nov 20

text of obituary:

Emil H. Decker, ein Sohn von Henry und Susie (Eck) Decker, wurde geboren nahe Moundridge, Kansas den 20. November, 1889. Als Oklahoma zur Ansiedlung geöffnet wurde kam er mit seinen Eltern nach hierher und siedelten sich an 3 und 3/4 Meilen Nordost von Meno. Bruder Dekker kaufte sich dann die Heimstätte nahe seiner Geburtsstätte wo er seitdem wohnte. Den 5. Juni, 1909 heiratete er Eva Buller mit der er über 30 Jahren Leid und Freude teilte. Am 17. September, 1911 ließ er samt Frau auf den Glauben an Jesum Christum taufen und sie schlossen sich der Neu-Hoffnungstal Gemeinde an, wo er Glied blieb. Den 18. Dezember 1934 hatten er und Kinder und Henry Kröker in großes Auto-Unglück, wo sie aber alle mit dem Leben davonkamen, nur Bruder Decker lag zwischen Leben und Tod für mehrere Wochen. Er wurde aber wieder soweit gesund, daß er noch 11 Jahre mit seiner Familie sich seines Lebens erfreuen durfte. Aber die Folgen dieses Unglücks blieben. Ungefähr 6 Monte vor seinem Tode fing er an zu leiden, er suchte Hilfe aber vergebens. Am 28. November wurde er bedenklich krank, und ward zum ho’pital genommen, wo er Abends den 11. Dezember, 1945 entschlief im Alter von 56 J. und 21 Tagen. Er litt viel, aber in Geduld und Vertrauen im Herrn. Besonders nach dem Unglück hat er ein ernstes christliches Leben geführt. In seinem Heim wurde viel gesungen und Gottes Wort war ihm wichtig. In seinem Leiden sprach er oft von seinem Erlöser und so hat er auch seinen Lauf vollendet. Er hinterläßt: seine Gattin, zwei Töchter, Mrs. Edna Kröker, Reedley, Calif.; Sadie vom Heim; Rudolph, Meno, Okla.; Leonard, Enid, Okla.; 10 Großkinder, einen Schwiegersohn 2 Schwiegertöchter, dazu 3 Brüder, 5 Schwestern und viele Freunde. Auf dem Begräbnis dienten die Bruder A. J. Unruh und H. U. Schmidt mit dem Wort. “Selig sind die Toten die in dem Herrn sterben.”

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1946 Jan 31 p. 3

text of obituary:

EMIL H. DECKER

Emil H. Decker, son of Henry and Susie (Eck) Decker, was born near Moundridge, Kansas, on November 20, 1889.

At the opening of the Cherokee Strip in Oklahoma, his parents settled on a place one mile east and two and three-fourths miles north of Meno, where he grew to manhood.

He bought the place across the road from his home, where he resided until the end. June 5, 1909, he married Eva Buller, with whom he shared joy and sorrow for over 36 years.

September 17, 1911, upon their confession of faith in Jesus Christ, he and his wife were accepted as members in the New Hopedale Mennonite church, of which he was a faithful member until he died.

On December 18, 1934, he and his children and Henry Kroeker met with a serious accident, which they all survived, although Br. Decker lay between life and death for several weeks. But the Lord took him through and allowed him to live with his family for 11 more years, but the effect of the accident stayed with him. He did not suffer seriously until six months ago when his health began to fail. He sought relief, but of no avail. On November 28 he became very ill and finally had to be taken to the hospital, where he died of Bright's disease and other ailments at 9:15 P. M., December 11, 1945, at the age of 56 years and 21 days.

He suffered much but bore his suffering with patience and trust in the Lord. In his last hours he spoke at different times of his Saviour and the cross on which He died. Since the accident in 1934 he took life more serious than ever. He greatly enjoyed singing and the reading of God's Word. He tried to live a life as the Lord showed him.

Whenever the church gave him a task, he performed it cheerfully. It gave him great joy in his last days to make a drive for the collecting of funds for the relief of war sufferers.

Some of his last words were, "Jesus saves" and then made the sign of the cross.

He leaves to mourn his departure: His dear wife; two daughters, Mrs. Edna Kroeker, Reedley, Calif.; Sadie of the home; two sons, Rudolph, Meno, Okla., Leonard, Enid, Okla., one son-in-law, two daughters-in-law and 10 grandchildren.

It grieved him and his family very much when his son Paul was taken in death in 1933 at the age of 18 years 10 months and 5 days.

Besides the above, he leaves five sisters: Mrs. Ed Myers, Pismo Beach, Calif., Mrs. Rudolph Koehn, Taloga, Okla., Mrs. John Shaffer, Clinton, Okla., and Mrs. Eldabell March, Detroit, Mich.; and three brothers, Gustave, Halstead, Kans., Frank of New Mexico, and Ed of Ringer, Okla., the families of the above brothers and sisters and many other friends and relatives.

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. Rev. 14, 13.

The funeral took place on December 16, 1945, at which Rev. H. U. Schmidt and Rev. A. J. Unruh spoke words of comfort.

The Mennonite obituary: 1946 Feb 5 p. 14