John Joseph Deck

John Joseph Deck of Monroe, WA lost his battle with cancer on September 20, 2024 at Providence Hospital in Everett, WA at the age of 83 with his children by his side. He was born on April 20, 1941 in Tacoma, WA to Swiss parents Frank and Josephine (Muller) Deck. He was the tenth child and youngest son in a large family of 12 children. The family moved from the Tacoma tideflats to a farm in Puyallup in 1942. They farmed there until 1956. During this time John attended Riverside Grade School in Puyallup and was a happy kid growing up. He raised rabbits for a hobby and later ducks and pheasants. While in Puyallup the kids were all in 4-H and showed their dairy animals at the Puyallup Fair. There was a picture of all of them lined up with their cows and calves titled “The Dairying Decks” that ended up on a feed store calendar. In December of 1956 the Deck Family moved onto the Browns farm at Nisqually, WA and farmed on what is now the Billy Frank Jr. Wildlife Refuge. John farmed there with his parents and brothers until their lease ended in 1966. His father retired and three of the brothers Frank, Louie, and John each went out on their own and purchased their own farms. John purchased a farm in Chehalis, WA and moved there in January 1967. On April 8th of that year he married Helen Weishaupt of Monroe whom he met at a Swiss Picnic in Frances, WA the previous summer. They farmed in Chehalis for two years and had their first two children, Teresa and John Jr. When Helen’s father Albert Weishaupt retired John was given the opportunity to purchase the Weishaupt Farm in Monroe. John and Helen moved their herd of 100 registered Holstein cows to Monroe on August 27, 1969, where he continued to own and operate Deck Dairy for the next 55 years until his death. When living in Monroe they had four more children; Monica, Rita, Paul, and David. During those years John exhibited his Holstein cows at many fairs and shows with much success. John was also a hand milking contest champion at the Evergreen State Fair. Over the years John sold registered Holsteins to Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Canada. John’s passion for farming only came to an end when cancer prevented him from working in the last few months of his life, but he still drove the John Deere Gator around the farm to supervise, see what was going on, talk, and check on the crops growing in the fields. He will be greatly missed. He always had a good sense of humor, was a good storyteller, and quick with numbers. He liked animals and was definitely a “cow” person. He loved going to fairs and having good times at the fairs, especially as a kid. John was an extremely hard worker his entire life and a farmer for life.

John served in the US Army and then in the reserves. He was a member of St. Mary of the Valley Catholic Church, Washington State Farm Bureau, Holstein Association, Northwest Dairymen’s Association (Darigold), Monroe Swiss Colony, and Tacoma Swiss Men’s Society. He enjoyed going to Swiss functions such as Swiss picnics, dances, and Schwingfests his entire life.

John is survived by four children, Teresa Deck, John Deck Jr., Monica Barber (Mitch), and Paul Deck (Meagan), three grandchildren, Nathan Barber, Audrey Barber, and Bennett Deck, and five siblings, Charlie Deck, Caroline Inglin, Patty Schilter, Rose Inglin, and Francie Morgan. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Maria Deck, daughter, Rita Louise Deck, son, David Joseph Deck, and six siblings, Josephine Moser, Frank Deck Jr., Louie Deck, Bert Deck, and Paul Deck. A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary of the Valley Catholic Church, 601 W. Columbia St., Monroe, WA 98272. For those who wish to participate, there will be a rosary at 10:30 a.m. at the church. Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary of the Valley Catholic Church.