Sharon Decker
Sharon M. Decker, 82, of Waukon died Monday, May 26, 2025, at her home in Waukon. Memorial services were held Friday, May 30 at United Methodist Church in Lansing with Pastor Sedar Shako officiating. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.
Sharon Mae Decker (best known as Shorty) was born May 4, 1943, to Irene and Donald Steiber of Lansing, one of five children. She shared wonderful memories of growing up in the Wexford area.
She was married December 3, 1961, to Robert James Decker. To her credit she raised six children while Bob was an over the road truck driver. She was tiny in stature but mighty in keeping them all in line.
Sharon worked at Blumenthal Lansing Company (the Button Factory) in Lansing for 30-plus years where she eventually retired. She was a long-time member of the Lansing United Methodist Church. In her retirement years she continued to assist with her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, caring for them in her home and her daughter’s home. Sharon loved her children and they loved her equally in return. Every year she hosted Halloween for 18 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren and loved to see them all in costume.
She loved fishing with her son, attending Music in the Park, and going to haystack suppers. Sharon had a gift for putting together puzzles, she always had a puzzle going and when you came to her home, inevitably you got caught up in the search for that elusive piece. This gave us all precious time to visit with her and share in the challenge. She would receive puzzles as gifts and put together requested puzzles for family members.
Sharon was proud to donate framed puzzles to fundraisers and for grandchildren’s rooms. She also loved flowers and spread her love to family members. Sharon would share sprouts of her Christmas Cactuses with friends and family and was happy to pass on that tradition that she received from her mother.
She was an avid John Wayne fan and collected 78 movie tapes through the years. Sharon was well known for her banana bread and chicken and dumplings. She donated banana bread to the annual Hospice Memorial Ride every year and people would come to the ride just to bid on those loaves.
Sharon will be fondly remembered by many for her smile and feisty attitude. Her legacy lives on through her family and we will miss her beyond measure.
Sharon is survived by her children: Sarah (Pat) Egan, Nancy Haberichter, Susan (Ron) Troendle, Steve (Mick Palas) Decker, Nadine (Rick) Miller and Bobbie Jo (Dave) Cowell; her 18 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren; her brother, Kenny (Judy) Steiber; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; a grandchild, Shawn Haberichter; a great-grandchild, Abel Ludeking; a son-in-law, Tom Haberichter; and three sisters, Beverly Grady, Ruth Russell, and Mona Shelton, along with their spouses.
Honorary urnbearers were Sharon’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Urnbearers were Aceyn, Breyzland, Kowyn and Patrick Egan.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
