Obit: Decker, Clara (Stroota) (1885 - 1972)

Contact: Linda Mertens
Email: mertens@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

----Source - Anna Johnson's Scrapbook

Clara Decker (8 Sep 1885 - 20 Jan 1972)

Funeral services for Mrs. Clara Decker, 86, were held Saturday (Jan. 27, 1972) from St. Louis Catholic church here (Dorchester, WI). Rev. Gerald F. Schuh officiated at the 11:00 a.m. rites.

Burial was in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery at Colby under direction of Maurina Funeral Home. Grandsons were pallbearers: William Lamb, Pewaukee; Galen Decker, Prairie View, Ill.; Pat Decker, Oconomowoc; David Decker, Eau Claire; Jerome Zylka, Milwaukee; Ralph Zylka, Grand Forks, N. D.

Mrs. Decker died about 5:30 a.m. January 20 at her home here. She had suffered a stroke April 12, 1966 while visiting a son in Eau Claire, and was hospitalized at Chippewa Falls until Nov. 17, 1967, when she was returned to her home here, with her daughter Mrs. Roselind Didier caring for her since. Her condition deteriorated gradually since mid-summer.

She lay in state after 3:00 p.m. in Maurina Funeral Home, where a Rosary Altar Society rosary was said at 4:00 p.m. and a parish rosary service was held at 8:00 o’clock.

Clara Elizabeth Stroota was born Sept. 8, 1885, in Town of Holton, and received her education in Pickard school. She married George Decker Nov. 22, 1910 in St. Mary’s Catholic church, Colby. They resided in Wuersburg and Poniatowski area where he was employed in cheese making. In 1918 they moved to a farm on the west edge of this village where he died April 3, 1922.

In 1928 Mrs. Decker and her family moved into the house in the village which had been her home since. She was a member of St. Louis Catholic church, and its Ladies Rosary Altar Society. She also was a member of the local unit of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Surviving are three sons: Adelbert of Eau Claire; Myron, Milwaukee; Bernard, Oconomowoc; three daughters: Mrs. Roselind Didier, Dorchester; Mrs. Fred (Margaret) Thurlwell, Mundelein, Ill., Mrs. Ervin (Dolores) Zylka, Milwaukee; 21 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren.

A son, two brothers, and two sisters preceded her in death.

Relatives and friends came to the funeral from Cumberland, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Milwaukee, Pewaukee, Oconomowoc, Prairie View, Ill., Highward, Ill., Mundelein, Ill., Park Ridge Ill., and this and neighboring communities.