Frances Loretta Decker

With unending devotion to her family, Fran Decker was a blessing to each and every one of her loved ones. She lived fully in the moments she was given while facing whatever came her way with unwavering faith. With her own unique spunk and sparkle, Fran brought a room to life, and her zest for life was contagious. She experienced so many of the best things that life has to offer, but what made them truly extraordinary was sharing them with the ones she loved. A dear woman to many, Fran will never be forgotten. It was great to be an American during the decade that we commonly recall as the Great Depression. Cars were mass produced on assembly lines, which made them more affordable, and Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh took the world of flight to new heights. This was the decade that saw the silent film era come to an end, and the lights of Broadway never shined brighter. Amidst this exciting time was the year 1926 when John and Frances (Feuling) Hentges were pleased to announce the birth of the baby girl they named Frances Lorretta on January 31st, near Town of Cross, Wisconsin. She was raised on the family farm in Tamarack and then Thompson Valley, located near Arcadia. Fran was one of ten children. As a young woman, she followed her older sister to Milwaukee and spent her twenties living and working there. It was while in her late twenties that Fran met the young man at a dance. His name was Bob Decker. They began dating, and everyone knew Fran was the one for Bob when he took a train to Milwaukee to visit her. With a desire to establish a life together, the sweethearts were married on June 26, 1954. They made their home on the Decker family farm near St. Charles, which was the place that Fran called home for the rest of her life. Together they welcomed four children, Sharon, Pam, Michele, and Marge, into their hearts and home. The girls certainly kept her busy, too, as Fran was known to speak of having four girls to "put up with." She was a wonderful cook and baker whose skills in the kitchen were so fantastic that her family never wanted to go out to eat. Always willing to work hard, Fran was not only a fabulous homemaker but she also worked the farm with Bob. She did find a way to make life fun, too, as she often twisted up her daughters' names like calling for "Marchele." Usually, this was followed by her saying, "Which ever one you are!" Christmas was always spent at Fran's where the gatherings were loud and filled with plenty of laughter and love. Everyone always looked forward to Fran's oyster stew on Christmas eve.In addition to caring for her family, Fran kept busy in other ways as well. She was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, it's rosary society, and homemakers. Fran also loved dancing, especially the polka, and for years she and Bob danced fairly regularly. She liked traveling, and over the years she and her husband took many road trips, although he was notorious for not stopping along the way. Fran and Bob took a memorable Alaskan cruise together, for their 40th anniversary. She frequently took trips with her girls including a six week stay in Las Vegas with Marge. Fran and her girls also took road trips to the Grand Canyon, New Mexico, and they also went on a wine tour. She especially loved seeing all the old ships and beautiful water in San Diego, and Fran enjoyed gaming on her trips. Fran and her sisters, also known as the "Twisted Sisters," were notorious for having all kinds of fun together. Around home, she liked gardening, fishing, playing board games, especially dominoes, traveling, and watching the Minnesota Vikings while cheering loudly. However, Fran didn't always know exactly what she was cheering for! All who knew Frances Decker would agree that she was an extraordinary woman to know and love. She was loving and kind, generous and positive with a "one day at a time" outlook on life. Fran loved being a wife, mother, and viewed the day that each of her girls were born to be the best days of her life. Later in life, Fran was filled with unspeakable joy when grandchildren came along later in life. Everyone knew that she could not keep a secret, but her heart was always in the right place. Fran rarely got mad, but when she did she never did swear, rather, she said, "You dirty bird!" Deeply cherished, she will be forever missed. "Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: Give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments," Psalm 119:73, will always remind Fran's loved ones of her. Frances Lorretta "Fran" Decker, of St. Charles, died Sunday, December 20th, at Mayo Clinic Hospital - St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. Fran's family includes her four daughters, Sharon (Pat Buchanan) Decker of Richfield, Pam (Kendall) Persons of St. Charles, Michele (Brad Becker) Decker of Hayfield, and Marge (Jim) Cunningham of Las Vegas; five grandchildren, Rachel and Jared Persons, Myles Buchanan, Brady Becker, and Scott Cunningham; one great-granddaughter, Addison Buchanan; four siblings, Ellen Olson of Delafield, WI, Hank (Vivian) Hentges of St. Charles, Will (Vera) Hentges of Yuba City, CA, and Lorraine (Dick) Schultz of Utica; two sisters-in-law, Sadie Koenig of St. Charles, Marion Hentges of Caledonia, WI. Fran was preceded in death by her husband, Bob in 2010; sister, Marion Guslek; and four brothers, Herb, Joe, Orville, and Walter Hentges, two brothers-in-law, Clifford and Larry; one sister-in-law, Arlene. A Funeral Mass for Fran will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in St. Charles with the Reverend Kurt Farrell officiating. Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery. Friends may call from 3-6 p.m. Sunday at Hoff Funeral Service in St. Charles. They may also call one hour before services at the church on Monday. Please share a memory of Fran at her on-line guestbook and view her video tribute when it becomes available atwww.hofffuneral.com. Pallbearers will be her five grandchildren and two God sons; Rachel Persons, Jared Persons, Myles Buchanan, Brady Becker, Scott Cunningham, Kevin Guslek and Jeff Schultz.
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/658713