Richard Jeffrey Dekker (Jeff), age 73, passed away February 3, 2021. He was born February 15, 1947 in Muskegon Michigan to the late Richard L. and Elaine J. Dekker. Jeff grew up in Michigan and Illinois, but came to Colorado in 1965 and has lived here since. Jeff's greatest joy was being Santa Claus for all the kids and truly enjoyed the happiness he brought to everyone of all ages.
Jeff loved Colorado and the mountains, and loved to hike, camp and go four wheeling whenever possible. Jeff's other hobbies included working on cars and he rebuilt various engines including a diesel engine. He did fantastic woodworking and built solid oak cabinets. He created many metal-art pieces for gifts and charity, and built a solid copper range hood and bay-window for his own home. He enthusiastically followed steam powered locomotives and build his own model railroad layouts.
Jeff was also very civic minded and community oriented volunteering to tow floats for Littleton's Western Welcome Week to being Sunday School Superintendent. He sang in choirs performing in venues ranging from Carnegie Hall, Colorado Symphony, Red Rocks, Fiddler's Green to churches and local nursing homes. Jeff was also the Vice President of the local water board.
Professionally Jeff was a Jouneyman Sheet Metal Worker for over 40 years, and had an associates degree in Electronics. He worked on many notable buildings such as Currigan Hall, the Cash Register Building, numerous schools and was HVAC Foreman at the Republic Plaza Building. Jeff had so many more talents and he will be missed by so many.
Jeff was the beloved husband for 34 years to Naomi Dekker, dad to Sarah (Richard Cooper), Ana (Glenn Crandall Jr) grandpa to Andrew Howard, Matthew Howard, Justin Howard, and Glenn Lee Crandall III (Natalie) and great grandpa to Makenzi Crandall and Liliana Candall.
Brother to Diana Dame (Donald), Julie Welsher (Randall), Laura Brame (Daniel), Mark (Marguerite)
Brother-in-law to Shirley Hutchinson, Kathy Craighead and Donald (Jeanie) Craighead
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother James, brother-in-law Ira Hutchinson and brother-in-law David Craighead.
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