Julia Ann Decker

Julia Ann Decker, 76, of Star City, IN passed away on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at Northwest Health Porter Hospital in Valparaiso, IN. She was surrounded by her sister, brother-in-law, and close friends following an unexpected battle with pneumonia and lingering health issues. She was born in Ft. Wayne, IN on January 2, 1949 to the late Wayne and Marjorie (Boze) Decker. In 1967, Julia graduated from Lincoln High School in Willis, MI. Following in her mother's footsteps, Julia went to nursing school at Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1972.
After earning her RN Degree, Julia moved close to home (Ann Arbor, MI) to work at the University of Michigan Hospital Respiratory ICU. Several years later, she moved to Detroit, MI where she worked in the Cass St. Corridor with TB patients. She received the "Spirit of Detroit" Award in August 1976 for her dedicated service to the people she served there. She later packed up and moved across the country, pulling a small U-Haul to Pasadena, CA, where she worked at La Viña Sanatorium and was in charge of the respiratory unit. While there, she found her love for pregnant mothers and babies. Julia stayed in OB the remainder of her career and earned several awards and recognitions for her work. After leaving California, she worked as an OB Nurse in South Carolina and North Carolina, before settling down in Indiana. Her career had come full circle as she came home to aid and help her mother - who had started having health issues. In Indiana, she worked at Logansport Memorial Hospital as head of the OB and childbirth education. Julia's career in OB Nursing came to an end when she retired from Pulaski Memorial Hospital. During her career, she was certified as a doula, Lamaze instructor, as well as a certificated lactation consultant and teacher.
Julia also worked at Pulaski County Public Library and volunteered for the Warrior Up Program. She especially loved the Christmas and Easter Holidays as well as the spring and fall seasons. She loved cooking, trying new recipes (as her extensive cookbook collection testifies too), and going out to eat with friends and family. One of her best memories was a cruise for her 50th birthday with sister, Chris, as well as going to Italy with her niece and her family. A few years ago she did a memorial park trip out West and saw several national parks with dear friends, Sharon and Deb.
Julia loved Jesus and attending church wherever she lived. Church membership was a central and pivotal part of her life and she acknowledged she grew more and more in the Lord, the older she got.
Julia is survived by:
Christine and William (Decker-Zerger) Zelmer, Battle Creek, MI Sister and brother-in-law
Laurie and William Moore, Woodland, AL Niece
Shawn and Margie (Bailey) Zelmer, Chesterfield, MI Nephew
Other great nephew and nieces:
Jacob and Marissa Zelmer
Nicolai and Shawnah Grabill
Kendra and Kyra Zelmer
She was proceeded in death by:
Wayne and Marjorie (Boze) Decker, Parents
Robert Decker, Brother
Randall Decker, Brother
her grandparents
several aunts and uncles
The family will host a Celebration of Life Friday, April 25, 2025 at 6:30pm at the Heartland Church of Winamac, IN.
Visitation will be one hour prior to Celebration of Life.
Memorial contributions may be made to the funeral home to assist with final expenses.
Online Tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary in Winamac.