Thomas Martin Decker

Decker, Thomas Age 89, of Shoreview, Passed away on January 27, 2022 Thomas Martin Decker was born December 12, 1932 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Martin Decker and Claire (Schneider). He was a graduate of University High School and the University of Minnesota, B.S. Electrical Engineering. He served in the U.S. Army. Raised with Pilgrim Lutheran Church of St. Paul, he met his wife Beverley Bickum at the Campus University Lutheran Chapel. He was a Sunday school teacher at Resurrection Lutheran Church, Roseville, MN and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Circle Pines, MN. After a June 1959 wedding, their first home was in Shoreview, MN. Several years later they bought a cabin on Turtle Lake a few miles away. In the early 1970's they built a new home on the lake and continued there thru Beverley's passing 60 years later. After working for 3M and Control Data, Thomas obtained his master electricians' license and created an electrical contracting business with his wife. His specialty was re-wiring existing structures where he worked well into his 70's. Tom, Bev and their girls worked and played hard. Water volley ball, fishing, sailing, entertaining - they made the most of lake life. Saturdays were family work days. Their tennis court became a garden and fruit trees and grape vines were used to make wine. Remodeling of rental property and home upkeep also kept everyone busy. Tom and Bev's pride and joy was their grandson Jacob whom Tom picked up from Judy's work every morning for a day with the grandparents up until kindergarten. In the mid-1980's as his daughter's Judy, Stephanie and Liz became independent, he pursued a life-long dream of owning a business where he would attend auctions to build his sales inventory. Tom's Tool & Tinker in Ham Lake, MN was open Saturdays and Monday nights until his health intervened. Always inventing, repairing and cobbling things together, Tom built his boats, dock and custom designed equipment for all occasions. He had a business venture designing, manufacturing and selling ventilating fans. He was a pioneer in offering a thermostat - the Conservator that modulated temperature by monitoring both indoor and outdoor conditions. He represented POXY-Coat and used the paint everywhere, putting their claims to the test. He and a business partner created a product line of custom signs cut from Styrofoam. Strongly conservative and using word-play, Tom and Bev created and marketed "The Rod-Hammer," a device to install yard signs with little effort - no hammer or aim needed. As an only child he was like a brother with his Seaburg cousins (David and Paul) and Wilbur Decker. He kept vivid memories of childhood family even as current relations were difficult to keep straight. In the final months North Memorial Hospice allowed him to live at home with the support of his daughters and family friend Laura Powers and her service dog Dobbie. He spent his last hour surrounded by family, neighbors, clergy and songs. A service will be held on Friday, February 4, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Circle Pines, MN with a visitation at the church one hour prior to service. In lieu of flowers, memorials to BethesdaLC.org are preferred.

Tributes

Thomas Martin Decker

December 12, 1932 - January 27, 2022

Tributes

Thomas Martin Decker

December 12, 1932 - January 27, 2022

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