- Date Of Birth: July 31, 1937
- Date Of Death: December 27, 2018
- State: Michigan
Albert (Al) Raymond Dec Junior, 81 of Sanford passed away unexpectedly on Thursday December 27, 2018 at his home. He was being treated for atrial fibrillation and diabetes but succumbed to his illnesses peacefully with his wife Doris of 56 years by his side.
The son of the late Albert Raymond Dec Senior and Pauline Viola Bonko, was born July 31, 1937 in Gary Indiana. He is survived by his beloved wife and best friend Doris Wonn whom he married on June 22, 1962 in Nashville IN; his children, Katherine (Scott) Prohaska of Richmond VA, Stanley Dec of Lowell MI, Tamara (Jim) Miars of Grandville MI, brother Paul (Cathy) Dec of Portage IN, Sister-in-law Betty (Jack) Chastain of Franklin IN, Sister-in-law Phyllis Spencer of Gilbert AZ, daughter-in-law Christi (Shawn) Kraus in Grand Ledge MI, 12 grand-children (6 boys and 6 girls) and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and loving family and friends. Albert was preceded in death by his son Matthew Jason Dec and infant son Douglas Dec.
Al graduated from Purdue University in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering and from Indiana University in 1961 with an MBA, where he met Doris (his wife to be), also a student there. He joined Dow Chemical Co. in 1961 where he enjoyed a successful career in marketing and various management roles, retiring in 1992 (31 years). In 1992 he started his second career as an antique dealer and collector, emphasis on “collector”. He operated antique sales booths in Bay City and Shepherd MI until his passing (26 years).
Al and Doris enjoyed international travel, golf, high school athletics (especially those of their grand-children and home-town of Sanford). He was especially fond of the theater and performed at Midland Center for the Arts in various dramas and musicals. Al was active in, and a long-time member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. He was extremely proud of his Polish and Slovak heritage and traveled through-out Europe to enjoy the different cultures and foods. Al had an acute sense of humor and passion for science fiction and history which he applied to antique collecting at an early age. He knew the history of every piece he collected and maintained detailed records of his vast inventory. Al always had a joke or a quip for you and was loved by all who knew him.
