Obit: Dekker, Paul W. (? – 2014)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Dekker, Gotter

----Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Abbotsford, Wis.) 11 Feb 2015

Dekker, Paul W. (? – 25 DEC 2014)

Paul W. Dekker entered eternity on Dec. 25, 2014.

Paul was born in Mears, Mich., the son of an itinerant pastor. While growing up, Paul’s family lived in Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania. He attended Troy High School at Troy Penn., graduating in 1949. Paul graduated from Houghton College in Houghton, N.Y., where he met DonaMae Gotter. They married in 1956 and lived in Jackson, Mich., where Paul worked for the Public Health Department, and Dona taught nursing. In 1957 Paul and Dona moved to Waldron, Mich., to pastor the Wesleyan church. In 1958 they were assigned to Sierra Leone, West Africa, to work at the hospital in Kamakwie and were later moved to Bafodia. Their first child, Jane, was born in 1959, followed by their son, Gregory, in 1960. Paul and Dona retired from Wesleyan World Missions in 1970 and returned to the United States. Paul taught at Satellite Christian Institute in San Diego, Calif., where they became members of Skyline Wesleyan Church. Some years later, Paul joined Overseas Crusades and traveled with ministry teams worldwide. Ultimately God called Paul and Dona to form their own ministry, Dekker Ministries, Inc. After the children finished college and were married, the Dekkers moved to Loyal to be security for Dona’s parents until they entered eternity. While in Loyal, Paul was employed as a bus driver for Branstiter Brothers Bus Service as well as a driver for Domine Automotive Center. Paul and Dona continued to travel the United States with Dekker Ministries for several years after moving to Loyal. Paul served as a relief pastor for several area churches and was an inspiration to those who heard him preach.

Paul lived his life as a servant. Whether it was serving on the mission field, caring for his family, driving a team bus, or ministering to members of any community he lived in, Paul always put God first. It was no different in Loyal where he took every possible opportunity to build relationships with people in the community. He was a spiritual father to anyone who had a seeking heart.

In 2010, Paul and Dona moved to Madison, Ala., where they became valued members of Summit Crossing Community Church in Huntsville, Ala. Paul treasured his time mentoring and encouraging the pastors and staff at Summit. He found great joy in discipling the worship team, ministering to young married couples, and praying over the mission teams before their trips. On Christmas Day, after a short battle with cancer, Dekker went home to meet the Lord after a lifetime of servitude.

Paul left behind Dona, his wife of 60 years; his daughter, Jane Conrad, her husband David and their two sons; one son, Greg Dekker and his wife Diane, their four children and four great-grandchildren. He also left behind a legacy that honored God.

Paul and Dona’s daughter Jane said it best, "Dad's relationship with God influenced every part of his life, everything he did. (He) prayed often, anywhere, with anyone. (He) loved his family and believed that the health of his family unit validated his ministry. We were his top priority after God."

We in the Loyal area were blessed to have him as a part of our community.