Chuck Decker, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away at home in Walnut Creek on June 5. He was 75. Chuck was born in Rockford, Illinois on August 29, 1946, to Taylor and Margaret Decker. As a boy, he could be found making mischief with his sister Barbara, collecting stamps and coins, and digging for treasure behind his grandfather’s garage. He adored his parents and tried to follow their examples throughout his life. He earned a swimming scholarship to Iowa State University where he majored in Chemistry and Zoology and went on to earn an MBA from the University of Chicago’s Executive Program. Chuck worked in environmental pollution control, water treatment, and corrosion engineering – a career that would span 50 years. He met Joyce Armalis on a ski trip to Colorado, and they married in 1970. Chuck and Joyce had three children, Matthew, Andrew, and Heather. The family of five left the Chicago area and relocated to Danville, California in 1984. He owned and operated Ryan Process Inc. which specialized in water and wastewater treatments. He retired and moved to Rossmoor with Joyce in 2018 where he quickly made friends and served on the Homeowners Association Board. Chuck was an avid soccer fan and volunteered as a state-level referee for over 12 years. Televised soccer matches were a constant backdrop to everyday life and family holidays. Never forgetting his Midwest roots, he cheered for the Bears and the Cubs. He loved traveling, seafood, wine, pickleball, dogs, telling (sometimes tall) tales, and spending time with his family. Whether loading family members in the station wagon to cut down a Christmas tree or boating on Pine Mountain Lake, Chuck appreciated the outdoors. He loved life and preferred to be on the go in pursuit of the next adventure. Chuck is survived by his wife Joyce of 51 years, his sister, Barbara Lafayette, his son Andy Decker (Karen), daughter Heather White (David), grandchildren Madison White, Clayton Decker, and Jack Decker, and many nieces and nephews in the Decker and Armalis families. In addition to his parents, Chuck is preceded in death by his beloved son, Matthew. In lieu of flowers, donations are greeted with heartfelt appreciation to the Matthew Charles Decker Memorial Environmental Scholarship. Chuck and Joyce created this scholarship in their son’s honor, which helps subsidize the cost of a college student’s wilderness field study – a transformative experience that captures both Chuck and Matthew’s love of nature and environmental conservation. You can donate online at https://giving.ucsb.edu/to/decker-memorial-scholarship or mail a check payable to “UCSB Foundation” and please include “Matthew Decker Fund” in the memo line. Checks can be sent to: Attn: Bethany Innocenti Office of Development University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6035 Friends are welcome to attend a Celebration of Life on July 15 at 5 pm – Stanley Dollar Clubhouse in Rossmoor, Walnut Creek.
