Billy Gene Decker, 91

Spread the love

Updated Service Information as of September 5, 2025.

Billy Gene Decker, 91, of Casey, Illinois, passed away at 9:45 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Mattoon, Illinois. He was born April 18, 1929, in Greenup, Illinois, the son of William E. Decker and Florence A. Roberts Decker. On August 10, 1951, he married Roberta May Kuhn in Marshall, Illinois.

Gene was a U.S. Army veteran and proudly served his country during the Korean War. He worked at Eastern Illinois University as a sub foreman for over 24 years. Gene was a member of the First Christian Church in Casey, Illinois, and American Legion for over 50 years. Gene enjoyed playing dominoes and cards and in the past used to square dance and ride his motorcycle.

He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Roberta Decker of Casey, Illinois; son, William Steven Decker of Charleston, Illinois; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Chuck Decker; daughter, Deborah Vernon; brothers, Earnest, Everett, Donald “Max,” and John Decker; and sisters, Rosebud McElravy, Marian Decker, and Janet Cooper.

Memorial service honoring Roberta and Gene’s lives will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 12, 2025, at Casey First Christian Church with Pastor Adam Solorio officiating. Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. prior to the service at Casey First Christian Church, 200 SE 8th Street, Casey, Illinois. Burial will follow in Jack Oak Cemetery, Union Center, Illinois, with graveside military rites by Casey VFW and Martinsville American Legion.

Memorial contributions may be made to Casey First Christian Church, 200 SE 8th Street, Casey, Illinois 62420.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Illinois Quick Hits: Report shows Illinois with highest U.S. tax rates

Illinois Quick Hits: Report shows Illinois with highest U.S. tax rates

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A new survey says Illinois has the highest tax rates in the country. According to a WalletHub...

WATCH: Hegseth: U.S., Israel will soon have ‘complete control’ over Iran’s airspace

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square American and Israeli forces have begun taking control of Iranian airspace, and in a few days, it will be uncontested airspace, Secretary of War Pete...
Do No Harm claims racial discrimination in civil rights complaints against 2 health groups

Do No Harm claims racial discrimination in civil rights complaints against 2 health groups

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Do No Harm filed two individual civil rights complaints against healthcare organization Kaiser Permanente and health center CommUnityCare for offering what it describes as racially...
Clark County Graphic.6

Clark County Bans Kratom Sales in Unincorporated Areas

Clark County Board Meeting | Jan. 16, 2026 Article Summary: The Clark County Board voted unanimously to prohibit the sale, possession, and delivery of Kratom and 7-Hydroxymitragynine products within the...
Senate Judiciary confronts rise in child trafficking and sextortion

Senate Judiciary confronts rise in child trafficking and sextortion

By Emily RodriguezThe Center Square The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday heard from witnesses about the growing number of instances of child sex trafficking and exploitation. Some senators say there...

WATCH: Gov. Ferguson signaling income tax bill may be dead for session

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square Nine days remain in the 2026 legislative session in Olympia, and the proposed income tax has yet to reach the House floor and reports circulating...
Lawmakers consider SNAP, other amendments to 2026 farm bill

Lawmakers consider SNAP, other amendments to 2026 farm bill

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Lawmakers on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee debated dozens of amendments to the long-overdue 2026 farm bill during the Tuesday night markup. The Farm, Food,...
Los Angeles school board borrows $250M for settlements

Los Angeles school board borrows $250M for settlements

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square The Los Angeles Unified School District recently borrowed $250 million to settle claims of sexual abuse. That's in addition to the $500 million that the...
WATCH/EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS: California Voter ID measure gets over 1 million signatures

WATCH/EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS: California Voter ID measure gets over 1 million signatures

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square An initiative imposing new voter identification requirements in California is one step closer to getting on the ballot. Roughly 1.35 million signatures were collected during...
As fighting intensifies overseas, Republicans push harder to get DHS funded

As fighting intensifies overseas, Republicans push harder to get DHS funded

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square As fighting continues overseas, Republicans have ramped up calls to Democrats to pass funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which not only regulates immigration...
Reported debt deal, credit downgrades may add to Chicago budget woes

Reported debt deal, credit downgrades may add to Chicago budget woes

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago taxpayers may face higher costs if the city follows through with a reported bond deal. The...
State financial officers protect, recover $28B in tax dollars in 2025

State financial officers protect, recover $28B in tax dollars in 2025

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Conservative state treasurers, auditors and comptrollers protected and recovered $28 billion in taxpayer dollars from “waste, fraud, and abuse” in 2025, according to a report...
Iran war, Saudi outage to boost U.S. propane, butane exports

Iran war, Saudi outage to boost U.S. propane, butane exports

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square Chaos in global energy markets following the launch of Operation Epic Fury is expected to drive record demand for U.S. exports of propane and butane,...
Pritzker announces $2B in medical debt erased, half in Cook County

Pritzker announces $2B in medical debt erased, half in Cook County

By Sean Reed | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker met with Cook County health officials Tuesday to announce a $1.8 billion...

WATCH: Trump threatens to end all trade with Spain

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he wanted to end all trade with Spain over disagreements about military spending. The president cited Spain's reluctance to...