Bruce Decker

Bruce Ivan Decker

Cedar City

Bruce Ivan Decker passed away on March 18, 2014. Bruce was born February 20, 1923 in Delta, Utah to Venice Hopkins and Ivan Decker. The family moved to Parowan, Utah that summer. Bruce worked at his dad's sawmill at Dry Valley. He was a ratchet setter by the time he was 11 years old and learned to drive loads of timber off the mountain by age 13. He was an athlete and a musician while attending Parowan High School. As a senior, Parowan's six-man football team, for which he played end, defeated Brigham Young High School for the State Football Championship.

Bruce served in the US Army during World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He later served in the Korean War. Upon returning from his military service in Europe, he worked for the Utah Park's Company. He first laid eyes on a statuesque blonde named Adele Sevy while working at Zion Lodge. He courted her and they married on June 20, 1948 in Cedar City, Utah, later solemnized in the St. George Temple.

Bruce worked for Iron County School District as an elementary and high school teacher, coach, administrator, and district vocational director. He served as the basketball coach at Parowan and Cedar High Schools and baseball coach at Cedar High School. He was fortunate to coach the "Seventh West Barbarians" to three Baseball State Championships.

Bruce and Adele served a Family History Mission in Salt Lake City and later served as ordinance workers in the St. George Temple. Bruce and Adele were blessed with four daughters and nine grandchildren.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, Venice Hopkins and Ivan Decker; granddaughter, Kristen George; and son-in-law, Gordon George. Bruce is survived by his wife, Adele Sevy Decker; sister, June Decker Thorley, and daughters: Michelle (Jay) Decker, Leslie (David) Hawley, Ann Loraine Decker, and Marian Decker.

A Funeral service will be held on Saturday March 22, 2014 at the Cedarview Ward (1925 West 320 South) at 11:00 a.m. A viewing will be held Friday evening from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Southern Utah Mortuary and before the funeral from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at the Cedarview Ward. Interment will be in the Cedar City Cemetery under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary. Online condolences can be sent to www.sumortuary.com

The family would like to express their appreciation to the workers at Alliance, Kolob and Essential Care for their loving care of Bruce during the last month of his life.