Anne Deckard

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Deckard, Anne of Grand Rapids, Michigan. July 6, 1923 – May 9, 2021.

Anne was born in 1923 in a cupboard bed on Vliet Street in Franeker, Friesland, the Netherlands. With her parents John K. DeBoer and Dora Leestma DeBoer and younger sister Julia, Anne immigrated to the Grandville Avenue area of Grand Rapids in 1927. She exhibited a fiercely independent spirit from an early age, refusing to conform to accepted norms for young women regarding hobbies and professional aspirations. Instead, Anne set her sights on science and higher education. Anne’s mother despaired about her resistance to learning crocheting, believing this deficiency to be an obstacle to finding a suitable husband. After earning a chemistry degree and honors in math from Calvin College in 1945, Anne went on to Purdue University where she earned a MS degree in biochemistry and worked as a research assistant. There in West Lafayette, Anne met and fell in love with engineering student, John I. Deckard, from Duncannon, Pennsylvania. Anne and John married in 1949 and relocated to Grand Rapids in 1951. Once her two children were in school full time, Anne pursued her career teaching full time for 21 years on the Chemistry faculty of Grand Rapids Junior College and for shorter periods of time at Calvin College, Hope College, and Aquinas College. She was an active member and officer of local chapters of the American Chemical Society and American Scientific Association. A woman of deep faith, Anne advocated throughout her life for the marginalized of society with a special passion for those suffering from psychiatric illnesses or discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual identity, race, or ethnicity. One of her proudest moments was being elected Elder at John Knox Presbyterian Church where she and John worshipped for many decades. In their retirement, Anne and John joined others from the Lake Michigan Presbytery for a mission trip to the Nueve Guinea region of Nicaragua where they developed an understanding of economic justice issues. Later Anne and John played a significant role in John Knox’s sponsorship of a Sudanese refugee family. A child of the depression and of resourceful parents, Anne modeled sustainable living long before “sustainability” became a recognized term. She was adamant about conserving natural resources, eschewing a culture of consumerism and landfills, and using her biochemistry background to expose toxins in the workplace. Family was always important to her. She cherished each of her five sisters and cultivated supportive relationships with nieces and nephews. Anne is survived by her daughter Anne L. Hiskes, son-in-law Richard P. Hiskes, and dearly beloved grandson Benjamin J. Hiskes in addition to her sisters Jessica Kuizema (Harold), Irene Kwantes (Kenneth), and Dorothy Sheler (Dale), and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband of 56 years John I. Deckard Jr., her son John (Jack) I. Deckard III, and sisters Julia Veldman and Clara Houskamp. A fighter throughout her life, Anne could not defeat the COVID virus when it afflicted her for a second time. Rest in peace in the glory of the Lord. A memorial service will be held 11 am Friday, May 14 at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 4145 Chicago Dr SW, Grandville. Graveside services at 9:30 am Friday at Grandville Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet the family Thursday from 6-8 pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Westminster Presbyterian Church Downtown Food Pantry (https://foodpantry.westminstergr.org/) or to the Inner City Christian Federation (https://iccf.org/).