Peter John Decker

11/26/2004

Peter John Decker, 75, of 10 Harding Ave., a longtime Adams businessman, died Thursday at Berkshire Medical Center. Born in North Adams on Nov. 17, 1929, son of John F. and Barbara A. Schneider Decker, he attended Adams schools, graduating from the former Adams High School in 1947. He attended Tufts University in Boston for a time, and then graduated from the National Institute of Cleaning and Dyeing in Maryland in 1950. He served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard from June 24, 1948, until Oct. 8, 1962, when he was discharged as a captain after also having served as company commander for Company M at the Adams Armory. He re-enlisted in the National Guard on Aug. 19, 1973, and served as first sergeant at Headquarters Company in Chicopee, until retiring on Nov. 17, 1989. At the time of his death, Mr. Decker was the owner and operator of Decker Cleaners in Adams, which was founded by his father in 1931, and also operated Pete's Gun Shop from the same location for many years. He was a longtime Adams town meeting member, a member of Berkshire Lodge of Masons in Adams and a life member of the Adams Lodge of Elks. He was also a member of the Adams Turners and the Mountain Club of Adams, and was scoutmaster of the former Adams Boy Scout Troop 3 and a former commander of Adams Post 160 American Legion. He was also active with the Berkshire County Sheriff's Association and Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 310 in North Adams. He was also a member of the Republican Party. He was a former member of the Adams Lions Club, the Adams Council Knights of Columbus, the 104th Infantry Retirees Association and the Yankee Division Veterans Association. An avid outdoorsman, he was a member of the Adams Outdoorsman for Youth, the Adams Hound and Hunt Club, the Cheshire Rod and Gun Club, the Pittsfield Sportsman's Club, the Ashfield Rod and Gun Club and the Hale Mountain (Vt.) Sportsman's Club, and the Stamford (Vt.) Fish and Game Association. He was a life member of the National Rifle Association. He was a communicant of St. Anthony of Padua Church in North Adams. His wife, the former Elinor M. LeBeau, whom he married on Jan. 27, 1951, died on May 19, 1992. He leaves two sons, Thomas A. Decker of Savoy and Scott A. Decker of Conway; a daughter, Amy A. Giroux of Adams; seven grandchildren and two stepgranddaughters. FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for Peter J. Decker will be held Monday, Nov. 29, 2004, at 8:45 a.m. from the AUGE-PACIOREK-SIMMONS FUNERAL HOME, 13 Hoosac St. Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 in St. Anthony of Padua Church, North Adams, celebrated by the Rev. Daniel J. O'Hear, pastor. Burial with military honors will follow in Bellevue Cemetery, Adams. Calling hours are Sunday from 4 to 7 at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of the donor's choice through the funeral home. Survivors include two daughters-in-law, Patricia Decker and Karen Dunphy; a son-in-law, Alan Giroux; seven grandchildren, John P. Decker of North Adams, Michael T. Decker of Savoy, Noah J. F. Decker, Leah B.E. Decker and Meaghann F. I. Decker, all of Conway, and Hannah M. Giroux and Evan F. Giroux, both of Adams; two stepgranddaughters, Heather Terry and Kathleen Terry, both of Conway, and several nieces and nephews.

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