Obituary of Gerald L. Decker

Gerald L. Decker, 77, of East Greenbush died Monday, October 1, 2018 at Daughters of Sarah Nursing Center after courageously fighting his long battle with Frontotemporal Dementia. Jerry was born in Clintondale, in the town of Lloyd, N.Y to the late Allen and Sadie (Lennon) Decker. He was the owner of Decker's Produce Company, Inc. for 34 years with his wife Phyllis. From the time he was a child, he enjoyed working in his family's trucking business and on their farm. Jerry's love for animals started at a young age with his horse, Silver, and his dogs Dash and Tex. Soon after Jerry and Phyllis married they moved to Albany and Jerry began working for A.J. Rinella and Co., Inc. in the produce business and became their lead tractor trailer driver. While in this position he also ambitiously began his own business or brokering and trucking New York State Apples. In 1980, Jerry and Phyllis started Decker's Produce Company, which grew into their own family business with their two daughters and granddaughter working there over the years. Anyone who walked through the door at Decker's knew Jerry would always have some witty "Deckerism" or advice. One day at Decker's his beloved "Decker" dog came wondering in and became his best buddy. Jerry loved taking his family on Sunday drives and long road trips that covered the entire East Coast from Prince Edward Island to Florida. No matter how busy, or wherever he travelled, Jerry was always there to attend his daughters and granddaughters activities and milestones. Jerry had a love of cooking and spending times with friends and family, especially the traditional Christmas Eve dinner. Jerry and Phyllis travelled to many places including Jamaica, Columbia, and the Yucatan Peninsula, where he climbed the Mayan pyramids. However, for over 40 years Jerry considered Chincoteague, VA his "second home". Gerald is survived by his wife of 56 years Phyllis (Montarulo) Decker and two daughters: Joanne (Craig Thaler) Dwyer and Debbie (Nathan) Tator, brother James (Gloria) Decker, and two granddaughters Phyllis Rinella and Natalie Tator. Gerald was predeceased by his sister Laurie Snide. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral 9:00 Saturday from the Wm. J. Rockefeller funeral home and 9:30 at Church of St. Mary 163 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer, NY where liturgy of Christian death and burial will be celebrated. Interment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands with a luncheon reception following at The Century House in Latham. Friends may call in the funeral home Friday from 4-7pm Contributions may be made to Church of St. Mary 163 Columbia Turnpike Rensselaer, NY 12144 or The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD). Jerry's family thanks the many caring staff members at Daughters of Sarah, who helped care for him for almost three years.