Carl B. Decker

He was born in Keene, NH on December 25, 1920 the son on Charles H. and Rhoda Rixford (Rugg) Decker.

Carl was a lifelong resident of Keene and attended Keene school. He served honorably with the US Army as a Sergeant in Europe for twenty eight months. He was an ammunitions transportation specialist.

Carl was very active in the community and served as a full time and part-time officer with the Keene Police Department.

He was well known as “Bumbles the Clown” and was a graduate of the Clown College. He had a great musical talent and in addition to singing for weddings, funerals and special events he played the piano, guitar, organ and the accordion. He was the founder of the Keene Senior Swingers and also acted as Santa Claus for several organizations. He was a dedicated family man, loved children and helped many families in the Keene area. He was an accomplished artist and also had studied cake decorating in his later life. He also held a small aircraft pilots license. He was a member of the Keene Senior Citizens Center and was a member of the John F. Kennedy Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. He was a communicant at St. Margaret Mary Church in Keene.

He is survived by a daughter Carol Whitney and her husband, Bob. of Templeton, MA and a son, James Decker and his wife, Diane, of Northwood, NH; two grandchildren; Stephen Brodeur and his wife, Becky, and Michelle Castro and her husband, Adrian; four great-grandchildren; Miles Brodeur, Madelyn Castro, J. Michael Castro and Jacqueline Castro; and a niece Gail Kaiser.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in St, Margaret Mary Church, 33 Arch Street, Keene, NH on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. The Rev. Richard A. Roberge, pastor of Christ the King Church in Concord, NH will be the celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Main Street, Keene. Family and friends are invited to call at the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene on Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Carl’s name to the Keene Center-Genesis Activities Fund, 677 Court Street, Keene, NH 03431 or to the Keene Community Kitchen PO Box 1315, Keene, NH 03431.