GARDINER – At 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, Jack left us with broken hearts as he stepped into eternity with Jesus. His loving family and pastor were blessed to be by his side as he began this new phase of his life.

Jack was born in Bangor to George S. and Molly R. (Franklin) Decker. His very early years were spent in various Maine towns where his dad traveled for work, but at the age of 4, his family was finally able to purchase a home and settle down in Feeding Hills, Mass., where he grew up.

Jack graduated from Agawam High School in 1964, at the age of 16, and then attended Bridgton Academy which he often described as the favorite part of his educational experience. From here he returned to Massachusetts to study at Springfield College, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1969.

From a young age, Jack was a very active person. He couldn’t sit still for long and was always on the move. He loved sports of all kinds, having lettered in hockey, golf and soccer at both Agawam and Bridgton. He was very proud of coaching a championship little league team when he himself was still a young teen. His first “job” was caddying at a local golf club which fostered his lifelong passion for golf. He played at many local courses throughout Maine and greatly enjoyed golfing getaways to Myrtle Beach with his buddies. He also refereed youth and high school hockey for many years and served as a snowmobile race official.

Jack had a varied work life, which never really ended. He began his career as a schoolteacher, but quickly realized that was not his true calling. He worked for the State Police, then as a driver’s license examiner for the State of Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and as a child support enforcement agent for the Department of Health and Human services, from which he retired in 2004. He immediately took a job as a civil deputy for Androscoggin County and ultimately worked as a civil process server for the State of Maine, right up until the week before his death. His favorite job of all, however, was being “Dad” to Janet and “Grampie” to Jax and Maddie.

In 1989, Jack met his future wife Pat (Patricia L. Ricker), who was the love of his life. They met while working for DHHS and married on May 25, 1991. They spent many happy years together, even working next to each other at their day jobs. They loved to ride motorcycles and had many fun trips with friends. They attended a yearly motorcycle rally at Lake George, N.Y. for more than 30 years, the last 16 of which they volunteered their vacation time to work there helping others to enjoy the experience. They made many special lifelong friends during these years. They also loved family trips and traveled with their daughter Janet all over New England and the Eastern seaboard.

Jack could present a gruff exterior, but he was a very loving, devoted family man and caring friend. Like his dad, he could strike up a conversation with anyone and looked forward to weekly (sometimes daily) coffee klatches with his dear friends, biker pals and golf buddies.

Jack is survived by his wife of almost 32 years, Patricia Decker of Randolph; and his daughter, Janet, son-in law, Randy, and grandchildren, Jaxson and Madelyn Brown of Southwick, Mass. Jack has a cousin, Steve Hurd (wife Sandy and daughter Becky) who reside in East Corinth. In addition, he leaves many cherished lifelong friends who were family, David Jenney and family of Feeding Hills, Mass., Stan and Bev Tremblay of Dexter, and Galen Moore, of Gardiner.

Jack’s visitation will be held on Sunday, March 5, from 2 to 3 p.m. with a memorial service following at 3 p.m. at the Gardiner Church of Nazarene, 6 Nazarene Way, Gardiner, ME 04345. Arrangements are entrusted with Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website, http://www.staplesfuneralhome.com

Gifts in memory of Jack, who loved his animals dearly, may be sent to

Protectors of Animal Life Society, (P.A.L.S.)

188 Case Rd.

Winthrop, ME 04364

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