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Paul Decker
SPARTA - Paul Decker, 80, died Tuesday, March 21, 2006, at home.
Born in Rockaway to Eliza and Frank Decker, he was a lifelong resident of Sparta. Mr. Decker attended Newton High School before entering the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and served in the Marine Raider Battalion during World War II. He received two Purple Heart awards before being discharged in 1945.
He then worked for Arthur D. Crane Co. in Sparta until 1957, when he began Double D Builders in Sparta, which he owned and operated with his partner, Ford Dennis, until his retirement in 2004. Mr. Decker was a 59-year member and former chief of the Sparta Fire Department. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Sparta, Lake Saginaw Beach Club in Sparta, the United States Marine Raider Association, and a life member of the Sussex County Marine Corps League.
Mr. Decker was the beloved husband of 54 years of Mary Decker; loving father of John R. Decker and his wife Debby of Dallas, Texas, Julia M. Decker and her husband David of Plantation, Fla., and Patrick M. Decker and his wife Kathleen of Sparta; devoted grandfather of Patrick Decker, Nicole Decker, and Eric Buckley; cherished brother of Robert Decker of Jensen Beach, Fla., Hewitt Decker of Hardyston and the late Francis Cofod.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend visitation on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Goble Funeral Home, 22 Main St., Sparta. A fireman's service will be held Friday at 8 p.m. A funeral service will celebrate Mr. Decker's life on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Sparta.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sparta Fire Department Building Fund, 141 Woodport Road, Sparta, N.J. 07871.
Ruth K. Wilson Masel
WEST ORANGE - Ruth K. Wilson Masel, 90, formerly of Hampton Bays, N.Y., died Monday, March 20, 2006, at St. Cloud's Health Care Center, West Orange.
Mrs. Masel was a homemaker and a member of the South Hampton Golf Club in New York.
She was the beloved wife of the late August J. Masel, and devoted mother of Richard Masel, Karin Smith, and the late Bruce Masel.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the graveside service at Good Ground Cemetery, Hampton Bays, N.Y., on Friday at 1 p.m. Visitation will be held at the Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home, 2122 Millburn Ave., Maplewood, on Thursday, from 7 to 9 p.m.
For more information or to send condolences, please visit www.jacobhollefuneralhome.com.
Wilfred K. Barker
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Wilfred K. Barker, 94, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 16, 2006.
He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Aug. 24, 1911. He later moved to Wood-Ridge, then Montague and retired to Wanchese, N.C. He spent the last year in Canton, Ohio, and Columbia with family.
Mr. Barker was a U.S. Navy SeaBee veteran of World War II and was a member of the Guadalcanal Veterans of America, SeaBee Veterans of America, American Legion Post No. 44 and a lifetime member of VFW Post 10144. He was employed as a waterproofer in Montague before his retirement.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; daughters Joan Wheeler and her husband Roger, of Columbia, Gilda Heller and her husband Donald of Port Jervis, N.Y., Loretta Sheridan and her husband Allen of Ohio, and his stepdaughter, Joanne McCook; five grandchildren, Jackie Dasen and her husband Ken, Shawn Amato and her husband Rich, Kelly DeStefano, Melissa McCook and Amanda McCook; great-grandchildren Ron DeStefano, Michael and Josephine Amato; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
A funeral service will be held Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at Kohler Funeral Home, 280 Hackensack St., Wood-Ridge. Interment
will follow at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus. Visitation will be on Wednesday, from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m., at the funeral home.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the Ridgeway Health and Rehabilitation Center in Ridgeway.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the VFW Memorial Post 3616, 407 Center St., Wood-Ridge, N.J. 07075.
Catherine Koppenaal Prall
BLOOMINGBURG, N.Y. - Catherine "Cathy" Koppenaal Prall, a homemaker and an office administrator at Orange County Community College's Kindercollege, and a longtime resident of the area, died tragically Sunday, March 19, 2006, at home. She was 38.
She was born May 2, 1967 in Paterson. She was the loving daughter of Richard A. Koppenaal and Mercedes L. Koppenaal. Mrs. Prall grew up with her family at Kemah Lake in Hampton and was active in 4H and 4H National Congress. She was a graduate of Kittatinny Regional High School.
Mrs. Prall was a devoted mother, loving wife and caring sibling. She was past president, fund-raising chairwoman and board member of the Circleville Elementary School PTA; former director of Family Ministries; director of Vacation Bible School and an active minister at Family of Faith Lutheran Church. She also worked as a substitute teacher for the Pine Bush Central School District, at Blue Cross Blue Shield in Middletown, and was interim Church Council secretary and a senior Youth Group leader.
Mrs. Prall is survived by her husband Stephen; sons Jacob, Andrew and Philip, all at home; her father Richard A. Koppenaal Sr. and stepmother Maudie of Sidney, N.Y.; brothers William J. and Richard A. Koppenaal Jr., both of Branchville, and their wives Torri and Kimberly, respectively; and seven nieces and two nephews.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Family of Faith Lutheran Church, 240 Midland Lakes Road, Middletown. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday in the church.
Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Family of Faith Lutheran Church, Eagle Scout/Memorial Project, 240 Midland Lakes Road, Middletown, N.Y. 10940.
Arrangements under the direction of Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc., Middletown (www.applebee-mcphillips.com).
Helen J. Semanchik
ASBURY - Helen J. Semanchik, 88, died Sunday, March 19, 2006, at the Country Arch Care Center in Union Township.
She was born Nov. 25, 1917, in Detroit, Mich., and had lived in Plainfield before moving to Asbury 18 years ago.
She was the daughter of the late Marian and Katherine Suchania Firuta. Her husband John died in 1979.
Mrs. Semanchik was a seamstress for the Markay Bags Co. in Plainfield and also a woodworker for Green Brook Industries in Green Brook.
She was predeceased by her sister, Wanda Cockman, of Hackettstown, and one grandson, Greg Sulimenko, of Asbury.
Survivors include a daughter, Alice D. Sulmenko, of Bethlehem, Pa., one sister, Jennie Pittinger of Andover; one granddaughter, Laura Pham, of Falls Church, Va., and one great-grandson, Nicholas Pham, of Falls Church.
Calling hour is on Saturday, from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. at Scarponi-Bright Funeral Home, 26 Main St., Lebanon.
Memorials may be made to Tabby's Place, 1100 U.S. Hwy. 202, Ringoes, N.J., 08551, or the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 5940 Hamilton Blvd., Suite F, Allentown, Pa., 18106.
Karen Leslie Betts
DALY CITY, Cal. - At peace, Karen Leslie Betts, 48, died Monday, Feb. 27, 2006.
Ms. Betts graduated from Newton High School and attended Pennsylvania State University. She was employed as the director of information technology at Centre Daily Times, State College, Pa., and network administrator for Jostens Yearbook Publishing.
At her request, private services were held.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
William J. Wulffers
MARYDEL, DEL. - William J. "Dutch" Wulffers, 74, formerly of Ogdensburg, passed away peacefully in his sleep Tuesday, March 14, 2006. He was born Jan. 10, 1932 in Ogdensburg, the son of the late William C. and Helen M. Wulffers.
Mr. Wulffers attended the Ogdensburg school system, and was married to Judith Elaine Wulffers for 22 years until her passing in 1985. He never re-married, because he held a torch in his heart for her.
He served in active duty with the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He earned a Presidential Unit Citation, a Bronze Service Star, United Nations Service Medal and a National Defense Service Medal. After an honorable discharge, he worked for Ogdensburg Zinc Mines until they closed. He was then employed by the Plastoid Corporation until he retired.
He is survived by two daughters; Penny L. Santangelo and Billie Jo Wulffers, both of Marydel; four sons, Kevin, Lonny, Darby and Tracy Wulffers, all of Newton; his sister, Helen Benson of Newton, two brothers, Joe and John Wulffers, both of Landing; one son-in-law, Robert of Marydel, and two daughters-in-law, Tammy and Patience, of Newton.
Mr. Wulffers also had 18 beautiful grandchildren.
Viewing will be held Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m., at Bennie Smith Funeral Home in Dover, Del.
Beatrice A. Rank
BYRAM - Beatrice A. Rank, 86, died Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006, at Barn Hill Care Center in Newton after a short illness. Mrs. Rank was born in Byram on Aug. 30, 1920, and was a lifelong resident.
Mrs. Rank worked as a school bus driver for more than 30 years for the Byram school system. She was an active member of the Byram Historical Society, Red Hat Society and the Byram Seniors Club.
Mrs. Rank was predeceased by her husband, Walter. Together they were among the founding members of the Byram Rescue Squad.
Mrs. Rank was a cherished mother to her sons, William S. Rank of Byram and Robert A. Rank of Andover; and to her daughters, Carol A. Haase of Wantage and Linda M. Coleman of Stanhope; a beloved grandma to eight grandchildren; a dear great-grandmother to nine great-grandchildren; and loving aunt to numerous nieces and nephews.
Cremation was private. Her family invites all to join them for a memorial service to honor this extraordinary woman on Saturday at 2 p.m., at Christ Episcopal Church, 369 Sandshore Road, Budd Lake. Flowers may be sent to the church.
