Virginia L Decker

James E. Faust once said, "The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation." This message is so true in regards to Mrs. Virginia Louise Decker ( Varney) of Hastings, formerly of Lake Odessa, who passed away on October 29, 2023, at the age of 96. Her legacy and lessons will live on in her children and her grandchildren and all who ever knew her. She taught us to live our faith, to be resilient, to adjust to change, and to accept everyone. She also taught us to be very competitive marble players and to not speak harshly about others. Her sense of humor and funny way of coining phrases will keep us laughing long after this day.

Mrs. Decker is survived by the five boys who stole her heart: Dennis, Allen (Kathy), James (Terri), Steven (Jackie), and Brian (Jennifer); sister Mary Norris, and brother-in-law Wayne (Shirley) Decker; 17 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She was pre-deceased by her beloved husband Orville in 2009; also going to Heaven before her were her parents George and Clara Varney; her sisters Dorothy and Georgia and their husbands; her daughters-in-law Jennie and Darlene; many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; and a nephew.

Born January 1, 1927, at home in Charlotte, Michigan, she was the oldest of the four Varney girls. The family moved to Woodland, Michigan, when Virginia was a toddler, and she went through the Woodland school system, graduating in 1945 as the salutatorian of her class. While in school, she played basketball, sang in the school and church choirs, and was a voracious reader (a trait that continued throughout her life). She worked for E. W. Bliss Company during the summer of 1944 and National Bank in Hastings before starting her family. She met her prospective husband in 1947 on a blind date set up by her future brother-in-law, Ross Krebs. Orville and Virginia rode the roller coaster at Ramona Park in East Grand Rapids on their first date, and thereafter, they took the ups and downs of life in stride together. On October 18, 1948, they promised a lifetime together when she and Orville and her sister Dorothy and Ross Krebs were married in a double wedding ceremony on the girls' parents' 24th anniversary. The two couples celebrated their 60th wedding anniversaries in 2008.

Mrs. Decker was a supportive wife and mother, an active member of Central United Methodist Church, a member of the Rural Mother’s Study Club, a canner and a baker (her Christmas cookie recipe is one that many of her granddaughters continue to replicate!). The boys learned their love of music from her and have memories of hearing songs on WKZO and WION and WBCH. She read to her sons at bedtime and continued to read Mr. Willoughby’s Christmas Tree to the grandchildren at Christmastime.

She and Orville raised those very busy, hungry, and adventurous boys in the country where they scoured the farmer's fields in search of game to hunt. The family went camping and fishing and traveled west to see sights like Mount Rushmore, the Rocky Mountains, the Badlands, and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. They planned all of those vacations, of course, around harvest season, as Orville was the manager of the Co-op elevator. She and Orville also travelled extensively in the United States and wintered in Florida for many years.

Once the grandchildren came (with more girls than boys), she was able to put her sewing skills to work, making Teddy Bears, stuffed animals, cross stitch projects, and quilts, and crocheting afghans. She continued to crochet dish cloths right up until her death. She and her sisters also spent quality time together hosting a Barn Sale at her sister Dorothy’s place from 1980 until the 2000’s. She loved being a part of family gatherings and told everyone who visited to “Come when you can.” She enjoyed the holidays, was always up for a good marble game, routinely sent anniversary and birthday cards, and liked looking through her stamp collection. She made everyone feel like family, and many of her sons’ friends wanted her to adopt them. When she moved to Green Acres in Ionia in 2019, she became a favorite resident because of her kind demeanor. While there, she involved herself in bingo (she often won!), putting together puzzles, and being part of the exercise group. She moved to Thornapple Manor in 2023 and continued many of those activities.

The service of celebration will be on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at the Central Church in Lake Odessa at 11am. Burial will take place in Lakeside Cemetery next to her beloved Orville.

Visitation will be from 5pm to 8pm at Koops Funeral Chapel in Lake Odessa on Friday, November 3, 2023.

Special thanks to the staff at Green Acres, Thornapple Manor, and Hospice for their care in the last few years of her life.

Just before her beloved husband Orville passed away at age 84, she told him he was going to take a journey without her. He told her that he would be waiting for her. That wait is now over. We are confident they are reunited in Heaven.

Donations to Central Church in, 912 4th Ave Lake Odessa, MI 48849