Jerry Brent Decker, 71, died Saturday, June 2nd, 2012.  He was born January 17th, 1941, at Richmond, California, to Spencer Stewart Decker, Sr. and Earline Mae (Tilson) Decker.

Jerry graduated from Gothenburg High School in Gothenburg, Nebraska, in 1958. He and his brother Spence participated in football, basketball, track and baseball during their high school years. He attended Kearney State College at Kearney, Nebraska, for twi years. He was in the Army National Guard. He moved to California and became a hairdresser and owned Jerry and Co. Hair Designs in San Leandro, California. He married Helen Jewel, April 16th, 1966.  He retired in 1998 to take care of his wife. After they moved to El Dorado, Arkansas, he worked at Lions Club Golf Course where he made many great friends.

Jerry was a member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, where he served as an usher, office volunteer, “the football referee” for the Children’s Christian Formation on Wednesday afternoons and assisted with the youth (EYC) meetings. He was a reading tutor with El Dorado Connections and a volunteer with Hope Landing. He was a member of the “Silver Kickers” from Champagnolle Landing.

Proceeding Jerry in death are his wife, Helen; his parents, Spencer Decker, Sr. and Earline Silveria; stepmother, Judith Decker; stepfather Miland Silveria; brother, Spencer Decker, Jr.; nephew, Jay Decker; niece Pam Dreher.

He is survived by his sister, Dixie Dreher and her husband Rod of Elwood, Nebraska; sister-in-law, Janean Decker of Houston, Texas; nephews, Ted Decker, Gary(Gayle) McKenzie and Tom (Angel) Dreher; nieces, Kris (Reiny) Grasmick, Sheri (Dave) Giesbrecht, Susan (Sam) Hock, Karol Nelson, Anne (Ron) Schmidt, Lynell (Muriel) Decker Martins; 16 great-nieces and nephews; three great-great (and two more on the way); his very special friend Jessie Butterfield and her family, the class of 1958 and many other family members and friends.
Jerry loved life, his family and friends, golf, hiking, line dancing and most of all “the Nebraska Cornhuskers”.

A memorial service celebrating Jerry’s life will be held Friday, July 27th, 2012, at Banner Methodist Church, 43997 Banner Rd. Gothenburg, Nebraska at 2 p.m. with Pastor Janie Feeman officiating. A reception will follow the service at the church.

A memorial for Jerry has been established for Banner Methodist Church or the donor’s choice.