Al Decker

  Robert “Al” Decker, 62, died Tuesday, August 2, 2016 surrounded by his family after his battle with lung cancer. Al was born November 20, 1953 to Hazel (Long) and Robert Setty in Wabash, IN. He was later adopted by Ervin Decker. He grew up throughout the US, as his step father was in the Air Force. He graduated from Red River High School in 1972.                 Al was a workaholic, and had many jobs starting at age 14. When he was 17, he worked at Club Emerado as a cook before moving to Oregon. He returned several years later and worked as a cook at the Family Inn Restaurant in Emerado and met his wife, Schawnn (Granger) Decker. They were married in December 1976 in Emerado. Al and Schawnn resided in Grand Forks, where Al worked for local construction companies, Concrete Inc. and Structures Inc., until landing a job as an operator for Northwestern Bell Phone Company. Later, he became a cable splicer for the phone company until he changed career paths and returned to cooking. He constructed the kitchen and opened a small restaurant with the bar owner at the Parrot’s Cay. After a few months he was asked to open the restaurant at South Gate. He worked there for 8 years before opening his own restaurant, Al’s Grill and Catering, on South Washington. Three years later he moved from that location to Gateway Drive to continue with his ever-growing restaurant business and serving good home-cooked meals and catering to many around the region. Al’s passion and enjoyment in life was providing food for friends and family, he had a very generous nature. After eight years of serving the community from that location, Al retired and sold his business in May of 2015. He has been loved and missed by all his customers and employees ever since. Al is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, and two sons – Chris (Ashley) of Grand Forks with children Shae (7) and Brodie (5), and Eric (Elie) of Hastings, MN with Owen (3) and Loretta (3 months); one brother, Terry (Val) of Grand Forks; and one half-brother, James of Reno, NV; stepfather, Ervin of Atwater, CA; a very special cousin, Cindy Williams; and several nieces and nephews. Al’s honorary pallbearers will be his sons, and his very close friends; Rick Ziegelmann, Scott Doyea, Paul Gilbertson and John Kellner. He was preceded in death by his parents and several aunts and uncles. A visitation will be held at Amundson Funeral Home Friday, August 5th, from 5-7pm with a 7pm remembrance/open mic time. Please come and share your stories of Al. A “Celebration of Life” will be held at Lincoln Park in Grand Forks, Sunday Sept 4 from 12-4pm. This was Al’s wish, to have a celebration without tears and to remember the happy times with food and drink, just like he always did. Memorials requested to Altru Health Foundation supporting your choice of Cancer Care, Hospice or Lung Cancer Research, 2501 Demers Ave, Grand Forks, ND 58201. Please place your choice in the memo line of your check.