Peter Decker Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Mr. Peter John Decker, 74, of 10 Harding Ave. Adams, a longtime Adams businessman and civic leader, died Thursday afternoon, November 25, 2004, at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield. He was born in North Adams on November 17, 1929, the son of the late John F. and Barbara A. (Schneider) Decker, and 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. 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. Mr. Decker 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 later re-enlisted in the National Guard on Aug. 19, 1973 and served as First Sergeant at Headquarters Company in Chicopee, MA, until retiring on Nov. 17, 1989, after another 16 years of service. An active civic leader and philanthropist, Mr. Decker was a longtime Adams Town Meeting Member, a member of Berkshire Lodge of Masons in Adams; a Life Member of the Adams Lodge of Elks; the Adams Turners; the Mountain Club of Adams; was scoutmaster of the former Adams Boy Scout Troop 3;former commander of Adams Post 160 American Legion; The Berkshire County Sheriff's Assoc., Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 310 in North Adams; former member of the Adams Lions Club; former member of the Adams Council Knights of Columbus; the 104th Infantry Retiree's Assoc. the Yankee Division Veterans Assoc. and a staunch member of the Republican Party. An avid outdoorsman, he was a member of the Adams Outdoorsman for Youth; the Adams hound & Hunt Club; the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club; the Pittsfield Sportsman's Club; the Ashfield Rod & Gun Club; and the Hale Mountain (VT) Sportsman's Club and the Stamford, VT Fish & Game Assoc. He was a Life Member of the National Rifle Association. He was a communicant of St. Anthony of Padua Church, North Adams. His wife, the former Elinor M. LeBeau, whom he married on January 27, 1951, died on May 19, 1992. He is survived by 2 sons - Thomas A. Decker and his wife, Patricia, of Savoy, MA and Scott A. Decker and his wife, Karen Dunphy, of Conway, MA; 1 Daughter - Amy A. Giroux and her husband, Alan, of Adams; 7 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, MA and Hannah M. Giroux and Evan F. Giroux, both of Adams; 2 Step Granddaughters - Heather Terry and Kathleen Terry, both of Conway, MA;and several nieces & nephews. The funeral will be held on Monday, Nov. 29th, at 8:45 AM from the Auge`-Paciorek-Simmons Funeral Home, 13 Hoosac St. Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian burial at 10:00 AM in St. Anthony of Padua Church, North Adams, celebrated by Rev. Daniel J. O'Hear, Pastor. Burial with military honors will follow in Bellevue Cemetery, Adams. Calling hours are Sunday from 4 to 7 PM at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of the donor's choice through the funeral home.