Charles Decker

Charles Walter Decker

Charles Walter Decker, born March 26, 1938 in Virginia, MN, passed away on September 25, 2014 at St. Michael's Health and Rehabilitation Center in Virginia, MN, due to complications from advanced prostate cancer.

He was the son of Dorothee Mae Eames of Detroit Lakes, MN and Walter Frank Decker,of Ladysmith, WI, who both preceded him in death.  He is survived by a sister, Barbara Alarab of Danville, CA; three sons, Aaron Decker of Portsmouth, VA; Jeffrey (Angie Holly) Decker of Charlottesville, VA; and Christian Decker of Bedford, MA; one daughter, Debbie Green, Hibbing, MN; and two grandchildren: Rachel Green of Grand Rapids, MN and Zachary Green of Hibbing, MN.

He was a 1956 graduate of Buhl High School where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball and was an inaugural inductee into the Mt. Iron-Buhl Football Hall of Fame.  He attended Virginia Junior College and the University of Minnesota, graduating magna cum laude with a Doctor of Medicine degree, conferred in 1963.  He interned at Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Illinois in 1963.  He was drafted into the Navy and was stationed as Medical Officer at the U.S. Naval Torpedo Station, in Keyport, WA from 1964-1966, achieving the rank of Lieutenant.  He spent one year in pathology residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and further completed a residency in Occupational Medicine at the University of Cincinnati.  After working as a staff physician at US Steel in Vineyard, UT, he returned to the Iron Range in 1970 to begin a long, successful career in family practice in Hibbing, MN, at the Adams Clinic, where he also served for many years as Clinic President.  He remained at the clinic over the course of their mergers only fully retiring from Essentia Health in 2011.  He greatly enjoyed his years of health care service to the local populace, and remained proud and grateful of his relationship to his many patients through his final days.

He was an avid curler and golfer, and was a long-time member of the Hibbing Curling Club and the Mesaba Country Club.  He also enjoyed playing piano in a popular nightclub band for over 25 years in the local area.  He will be missed by his family and friends.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2014, at 11 AM in Dougherty Funeral Home, Hibbing.  Visitation will be Saturday in the funeral home from 10—11 AM.  To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.doughertyofhibbing.com.

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