Allan Wayne Dekko

Allan Wayne Dekko passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 6, 2025, following an evening filled with laughter sharing stories and memories with dozens of family members.

Allan was born on April 19, 1961, in Cameron, Louisiana, the youngest of six children, to Stanton and Dolores Dekko. In 1971, the family moved to Lafayette, Louisiana, where Allan attended Acadiana High School and discovered his passion for marching bands. His life long journey encompassed a distinguished career as a choreographer and director with competitive drum corps organizations, beginning in California with the Santa Clara Color Guard in 2002. Choreography and direction of marching bands is not a common career choice but it was the path true to his heart and he never considered any other direction. He worked with the Phantom Regiment as color guard staff, tour manager and assistant director at various times from 2008 to 2019. As a tour director, he facilitated a summer bus tour for approximately 200 high school students traveling across the United States beginning in California and competing along the road until it culminated with the WGI (Winter Guard International) national level annual competition in Dayton, Ohio. In 2008,Phantom Regiment won the coveted first place award for its Spartacus production. Additionally, for many years on New Year’s Day, Allan could be seen walking along Colorado Boulevard escorting an elite marching band for the Rose Parade. The pinnacle of his career was his choreography work for Madonna’s 2004 Reinvention Tour having designed a rifle routine in her Express Yourself segment of the concert. His choreography and involvement with the Reinvention Tour included accompanying the show to Portugal. Allan was inducted into the Louisiana Color Guard and Percussion Hall of Fame in 2011.

Allan has been described as legendary, authentic, unique, a leader, and larger than life by not only family and friends but those who worked with him. No matter the dynamics of any group, he could hold a room and everyone felt not only entertained and comfortable, but most importantly, included. He always lived in the present moment and that moment was all that mattered to him. In the last few years, cooking became his passion and receiving an invitation to his famous eggs benedict brunch was both an honor and privilege. His loss has left a vacuum for all of us that will only grow in the time to come.

Allan Dekko is survived by his three sisters, Patrice Dekko, Christine Dekko Rolf and Emily Kei Kohara; his much loved nieces and nephews, Paris Renee Sanchez, Vanessa Rubin, James Sparks, Karan Sparks, Kathryn Kohara, Sarah Kohara, David Kohara, Thayne Rolf and Eriksen Rolf; and numerous cousins from both the Dekko and Kohara families that he cherished deeply.

Allan is preceded in death by his parents, Stanton and Dolores Dekko, his sister Susan Kohara Rixman, his brother David Kohara and his niece, April Magana.

A celebration of life will be held at Palm Mortuary in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, June14, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. The service will be preceded by a visitation hour at 3:00 p.m. A private family service and interment will follow in Hailey, Idaho.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to the Santa Clara Vanguard Scholarship Fund at www.scvanguard.org/scholarships, to support students involved in the drum corps community to continue Allan's dedication to the pursuit of music. Allan chose to influence young adults as if they were his own. His influence has impacted hundreds throughout the years and will live on through all those who crossed his path.