Dewayne Decker

All who knew and loved Dewayne Decker can attest to his insatiable zest for life. He truly made the very most of every moment he was given, and he never turned down the thrill of a new adventure. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather to be, Dewayne led his family with unwavering strength. His hearty laughter was contagious, and his loyalty to his loved ones never faltered. Although he will be greatly missed, Dewayne leaves behind a precious collection of memories to be shared in the years to come.

The late 1950s were among some of the most exciting years to be alive, especially in the United States. Humanity was rising to new heights with space exploration. Rock and roll took the world of entertainment by storm with iconic artists such as Elvis Presley topping the charts. It was during this influential time that Donald and Lydia Decker of Kalamazoo, Michigan, were expecting the arrival of a baby boy. Their newborn son, Dewayne, made his entrance into the world on December 22 of 1958.

Growing up, Dewayne was a typical boy of his generation in most ways. He was raised in Kalamazoo alongside his siblings, Debra, Dorothy, and Kirk. Both of Dewayne’s parents made a living as ballroom dance instructors. Throughout his formative years, Dewayne was involved in the Boy Scouts, and he received his education at local schools. He was a mischievous kid and certainly landed himself in trouble, sometimes skipping school to go across the street, smoke, and feed the bears at the old Milham Park Zoo. Dewayne graduated from Loy Norrix High School, then went on to serve in the United States Army for a time.

Dewayne’s life was forever changed for the better when he met the woman who eventually captured the key to his heart. Her name was Christine Admave, and the two first met online. They came to know each other by their screennames, Skull and Angel, and a relationship soon blossomed. Christine was drawn to his sweet heart and sense of humor. Dewayne’s daughter, Terra, suggested they get married, and the rest was history. Dewayne and Christine were united in marriage on October 19, 2002. The newlyweds enjoyed a honeymoon to Canada. Their marriage brought their families together, surrounding Dewayne with even more people to love.

Dewayne worked hard to build a solid career for himself. He was an aide at Borgess Hospital, though he would often hide from the nuns so they couldn’t ask him to do something he didn’t want to do. Then, for over 20 years, Dewayne was a well-respected employee of Schafer’s Bakery. He genuinely loved his work and was known by his coworkers as “the Aunt Millie’s Bread Legend.” When the time came to retire, Dewayne found it difficult to step away. However, as a lifelong learner, he decided to return to school at Western Michigan University, earning his bachelor’s degree. Dewayne received the most applause from the crowd at his graduation, a testimony to his personality and relationships with people.

Of all the things Dewayne valued in life, his family was undoubtedly his greatest treasure. His three children, Troy, Terra, and Christy, were his entire world. Dewayne was very present in the lives of his loved ones. He served as the D.J. at Christy’s wedding, bringing the energy to the celebration. As his family grew to include several grandchildren, Dewayne was thrilled to step into his new role as a doting grandfather. He took his granddaughter, Savannah, fishing with her Barbie fishing pole. No one was allowed to touch Dewayne’s Klondike bars, except if he asked if you’d ever had one. If you said “no,” even if it was a fib, he’d gladly share. Nothing brought him greater joy than spending time with his loved ones.

Dewayne’s faith was his firm foundation. He was a member of Valley Family Church for more than 20 years, serving as a camera operator on their media team. Dewayne leaned on his faith in the good times and the bad, and it especially gave him great comfort with his health struggles. In their free time, Dewayne and Christine loved traveling. They went to Cancun in Mexico for their anniversary, where Dewayne fought and got flipped by a baby bull. The two enjoyed snorkeling in the ocean, even when mishaps occurred. Once, Dewayne had hurt his leg and Christine was cutting open the dressing when she accidentally stabbed him in his other leg!

Never one to sit still for long, Dewayne had many hobbies that kept him busy around the house. He liked going for long walks with the dogs, and he enjoyed flying RC planes with friends at River Oaks Park. Dewayne was known for his wicked sweet tooth, even keeping a stash of tootsie rolls under his bed. His mancave was filled with the most random things he bought. Dewayne drew style inspiration from the 70s and 80s. His clothes were always brightly colored and showed his fun personality. Dewayne’s colorful storytelling was riveting, but you could never be sure if he was stretching the truth. His sharp wit and sarcastic sense of humor were unforgettable. He also enjoyed being a ballroom dance instructor, taking after his parents.

Determined, headstrong, and tenderhearted as they come, Dewayne Decker brought life and laughter into every room. He went above and beyond to care for those around him in ways big and small. Dewayne’s greatest happiness was found in moments shared with his loved ones, and he considered himself so blessed to watch his family flourish. His legacy is one of compassion and steadfastness that came from his deeply-rooted faith. Dearly loved, Dewayne will be forever missed and remembered.

Dewayne Decker of Galesburg, age 67 died on September 4, 2026. He was born December 22, 1958 in Kalamazoo to Donald and Lydia Decker. He was preceded in death by his dad. Surviving are his wife, Christine; children: Troy (Kelly) Decker, Terra (Josh) Haveman, Christy (Joe) Coburn; his mother, Lydia Decker; grandchildren: Miles, Rowen, Traverse, Brekken, Savannah (fiancé Dakota); a great-grandson on the way; siblings: Debra (J) Marsack, Dorothy Decker, Kirk Decker; nephew and niece: Eric Sparks (Sable Verity), Jessica (Cody) Patterson; great-nephews: Brantley, Jack, Nick; and uncle, Earl Decker.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, September 26, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Augusta Custer VFW. Celebrate Dewayne’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on his dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, (269) 375-2900.