Walter F. “Beezer” DeDecker, 87, of Annawan, died Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, at Hammond-Henry Hospital, Geneseo. A funeral mass celebrating his life was held Monday, Jan. 11, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Annawan. The Rev. Jerry Logan officiated. Burial was in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Annawan, where military honors were accorded by the Mineral American Legion Post No. 1031.
Visitation was held Sunday, Jan. 10, at Vandemore Funeral Home, Atkinson, where a rosary was recited. Additional visitation was held one half hour prior to services at the church. Memorials may be made to Annawan/Alba Rescue Squad or the Henry County Home Health Care.

He was born Nov. 7, 1922, in Annawan, the son of Frank and Gertrude (VanHyfte) DeDecker. He was a graduate of Annawan High School. He proudly served his country as a Captain in the US Army during World War II with the 822 Battalion Tank Destroyer and Infantry. He married Madolyn R. Johnson May 22, 1949, in Sterling. He had been employed for the US Postal Service as a rural letter carrier for 35 years, retiring in 1984. He had also been a barber in Annawan and his home for many years. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, VFW Post,  Mineral American Legion No. 1031, and the 40&8. He enjoyed hunting and training his hunting dogs, fishing and all outdoors.

Survivors include his wife, Madolyn; a daughter, Connie Tourville of Annawan; four grandchildren, Jeff Tourville of Macomb, Tyler Tourville of Kewanee, Brad DeDecker of Carbondale and Carmen DeDecker of Carbondale, and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sons, Ted DeDecker and Steve DeDecker; a son-in-law, Rick Tourville, and a sister, Delores Schlindwein.