Joseph Peter Decker Jr.

Joseph Peter Decker, Jr., age 82, passed away on Wednesday, September 16, 2015. He was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on December 11, 1932, the youngest of Joseph and Elizabeth Decker’s six children. He graduated from G.A.R. High School, then served honorably in the United States Coast Guard during the Korean Conflict, and was stationed in Savannah, Georgia, Jacksonville, Florida, and the Dry Tortugas Lighthouse in the Florida Keys. Upon his discharge from the Coast Guard he returned to Jacksonville and began a career in the civil service. Joe worked for the Internal Revenue Service then the Department of Labor, from which he retired. After retirement, he owned Slightly Off Center Bakery Deli in Fernandina Beach and L’Atrium Cafe in Jacksonville. He was a member of St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church where he loved singing in the choir. He volunteered with the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary for several years after his retirement. He was a member of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) and enjoyed weekly gatherings with his Lunch Bunch friends.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Victoria, Helen, Basher, George, and Anthony. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Irene (née Costas); children, Joseph, Valerie (Rev. Fr. Aris) Metrakos, and Dena (John) Pirkey; grandchildren, Nicholas (Anysia) Metrakos, Stefan Metrakos, John Pirkey III, and Elizabeth Pirkey; and great-granddaughter, Katerina Metrakos; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation begins at 5:00 p.m. followed by a Trisagion at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church, 3850 Atlantic Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida, 32207. The Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 23, at St. John the Divine with The Very Reverend Father Aris P. Metrakos and The Reverend Doctor Nicholas Louh officiating. Interment will follow in Oaklawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made either to the St. John the Divine Building Fund or the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), 220 Mason Manatee Way, St. Augustine, FL, 32086.

Our dear Joseph had many friends and family who do not live in Jacksonville. Because off this, the family has requested that SJTD stream each service so others may join in prayer from afar. To view these services, you can visit our website http://www.stjohnthedivine.com/ and click on the Live Broadcast link.

Hardage-Giddens, The Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville is serving the family