Oct. 30, 1920-March 27, 2003

Dr. Norman K. Decker, D.V.M., age 82 of Breman, Ind. and formerly of Colon, died on Thursday, March 27 at the Miller's Merry Manor of Wakarusa, Ind.

Norman was born in Colon Township on Oct. 30, 1920, a son to the late G. Howard and Vernie A. (Hackenburg) Decker.

Norman's early life was spent in rural Colon, he also lived in Middlebury, Monon, Brook and Brownsburg, Ind. returning to Colon in 1986 to make their home on Sturgeon Lake, and moving to Breman in 1999.

Norman graduated from the Colon High School with the class of 1938, and from Michigan State University in 1943.

On Sept. 5, 1942 he married Leah L. Cotton in Lansing. Norman worked for the State of Indiana Veterinarian Office in the ephemerally department, he also had his private veterinarian practice in Brook, retiring in 1986.

Norman was a member of the Colon United Methodist Church, and he served on the board of directors of the American Lung Association, Hendricks County Board of Health, South Newton School Corporation and Indiana Veterinarian Association. Norman was a Boy Scout leader for many years; he received the Sagamora of Wabash award "outstanding service" by Governor of the State of Indiana.

His wife Leah, three daughters: Cheryl and Tom Teghtmeyer of Bremen, Kimberly and Cecil Calloway of Brookston, and Melissa Decker of Breman, seven grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, one sister, Donna Decker of Colon and several nieces and nephews survive Norman. In addition to his family he is survived by a Vietnamese family adopted in 1980, Hoang and Hue and three adopted daughters, Thuy, Thy and Trang.

He was preceded in death by five sisters and nine brothers.

The family received relatives and friends on March 30 at the Schipper Funeral Home, LTD in Colon. Funeral Services celebrating the life of Dr. Norman Decker were held on Monday March 31 at 1 p.m. at the Colon United Methodist Church with the Rev. Arthur C. Murphy officiating. Interment followed in South Colon Cemetery.

If desired, memorials may be made to the Colon United Methodist Church or the South Colon Reformed Church. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mistjose/obits/obitsD.htm)