Kayla M. Decker
Kayla Marie Decker, 21 of Dyersville passed away Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017 at Genesis Medical Center in Davenport.
Visitation was Friday, Dec. 15, at Kramer Funeral Home, Dyersville, and continued Saturday at the funeral home prior to services.
Funeral services were Saturday, Dec. 16, St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, conducted by Rev. Dennis Quint.
Burial was in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Rickardsville.
Kayla was born April 15, 1996, in Dubuque, the daughter of Paul and Jolene (Pfeiler) Decker. She attended LaSalle Catholic School through eighth grade and graduated from Beckman Catholic High School in the class of 2014. She participated in cross country, basketball, and softball throughout her years at Beckman and recently ran her third half marathon.
Kayla was currently attending St. Ambrose University and was due to graduate from their nursing program with her BSN in May of 2018. After participating as a dancer her freshman year she immersed herself in SAU Dance Marathon, the organization she fell head over heels for. Her sophomore and junior year she served as Morale Captain, and this year she was blessed with the opportunity to be the Morale Director. In Kayla’s words, “I dance so the kiddos can grow up and live out their wildest dreams – to be the firefighter who saves people from burning buildings or the artist who paints better than Picasso.” She will forever be dancing in our hearts.
Kayla completed a nursing internship last summer alongside her dad at the Guttenberg Municipal Hospital. She was a CNA at the Good Neighbor Home for four years, and was an athletic trainer assistant at SAU throughout college.
Kayla could give the warmest hugs that would brighten your day. Her glowing smile and contagious laughter would light up the room the moment she walked in. Her heart of gold and caring personality inspired everyone around her. Kayla was the best daughter, sister, auntie, girlfriend, friend and now she will forever be our guardian angel.
Those left to cherish her memory include her parents, Jolene Decker of Dyersville, Paul (Sheri Hall) Decker of Holy Cross, two brothers, Justin (Zara Montgomery) Decker and their son, Kayla’s Godson, Avan Louis of Farley, Ryan Decker of Des Moines; boyfriend, Luke Stovall of Channahon, Ill.; grandparents, Pat Decker of Holy Cross, Lyal and Melita Pfeiler of Rickardsville; Godmother, Doris Hannan; aunts and uncles, Wayne (Kathy) Decker, Mike (Laura) Decker, Julie (Dan) Neebel, Joe (Kathy) Pfeiler, Janet (Rod) Hess, Jim (Mary) Pfeiler, John (Lori) Pfeiler, Joyce (Tom) Pasker, and many cousins.
She was preceded in death by her grandpa, Louis Decker, in May 2015.
Memorials may be directed to Kayla’s SAU Dance Marathon https://events.dancemarathon.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.partici....
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.
