Jay Alan Dekker

JAY ALAN DEKKER, age 73, of Spirit Lake, IA, formerly of Fulda, MN, died Monday, September 22, 2025, at the Lakes Regional Health Center, in Spirit Lake, IA. He was born August 20, 1952, in Worthington, to Jake and Fannie (Van Zyl) Dekker. Jay and his older sister Melodee grew up on the farm 2 miles west of Fulda. During his early years he enjoyed helping his dad on the farm and playing church league softball. He graduated from Fulda High School in 1970. Jay graduated from Worthington Junior College in 1972 before graduating from Northwestern College, in Orange City, in 1974 with a B.A. Degree in Business Administration. Jay enjoyed his college years, making several lifelong friends and memories. After graduating from college, he went to work as a bookkeeper at Worthington Motors from 1974-1976. Starting in the spring of 1976, Jay began farming with his dad.
Also around this time, Jay began attending United Single Adults (USA). The group met once a month and enjoyed doing various activities together. While attending this group, he met Lynn Bouwman. After dating for a year and a half, Jay and Lynn were joined in marriage on January 16, 1982, at the Bethel Reformed Church in Lester, IA. The couple resided on the farm west of Fulda where Jay continued farming and Lynn stayed home raising their three children Sara, Danny, and Kayla. In May of 1995, Jay added to his resume and started working as a sub rural mail carrier in addition to continuing to farm. He became a full time mail carrier three years later in May of 1998. When he wasn't farming or delivering mail, Jay enjoyed biking, traveling, acting in community plays, watching Minnesota sports, especially the Twins, playing cards, and tying people's shoes together. He also enjoyed collecting toy tractors and going to regional toy shows.
Throughout his life, Jay was a member of the American Reformed Church in Worthington. He served several terms as a deacon and also taught Sunday School and was a youth group sponsor. In November of 2018, Jay retired from the post office and then in 2023 retired from farming and moved down to Spirit Lake, IA. One dark spot of Jay's retirement was being diagnosed with colon cancer in April 2019. Even while going through his treatments, Jay was still able to enjoy traveling, especially to Duluth to watch the ships, playing cards, and watching his grandchildren in their activities. In July 2025, Jay stopped responding to his cancer treatments and passed away on September 22, 2025.
Jay is survived by his wife, Lynn Dekker, Spirit Lake, IA; three children, Sara (Tim) Nichols, Marshalltown, IA; Daniel (Lizz) Dekker, Wallingford, IA; and Kayla (Caleb) Hoffman, Shannon City, IA; eight grandchildren, Sawyer, Bennett, Jacob, Millie, Clara, Koda, Corbin, and Carver, and a sister, Melodee (Dean) Balk, Cresco, IA.
He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be from 4-7 pm Thursday, Sept. 25 at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Worthington; and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Funeral will be 10:30 am Friday at the American Reformed Church, in Worthington, officiated by Pastor Alan Salwei. Burial will be in the Worthington Memorial Gardens Cemetery.