Robert E. Deckert

Robert Edward Deckert (aka “Bob,” “Deck,” or “Bobby D,”) was born on Flag Day, June 14, 1934 in Delair, New Jersey. He was the fourth son of the late Herbert Vanest and Dorothy Florence (née Githens) Deckert. His three older brothers, all deceased, were Herbert, Jr., Abner, and Ralph. He had two half-sisters, Verna Bryan of Miami Lakes, Florida, and the late Dorothy Houser. Bob was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Carol Ann Jones, who died from complications of ovarian cancer on January 2, 2014. He is survived by his two children, Suzanne R. (Deckert) Steevens (Michael), of Wentzville, MO, and David Glen Deckert (Laverne), of Lafayette, Tennessee; grandchildren Kathryn (Steevens) Mede and Jackson Steevens, and Matthew and Grace Deckert; his half-sister, Verna, and nephews Charlie and Kevin; and a sister-in-law, Evelyn Dalton Jones, who resides in Georgia and nieces Sharlyn, Leslie, Michelle and Carol. His first great-grandchild, Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Kathryn Mede, was born May 30, 2026.

Bob grew up in the small town of Delair, New Jersey, and graduated from Palmyra, N.J. High School in 1952, being voted “Nicest Personality” by his senior class. He said he missed out being Number One in his class because there were about 150 ahead of him! But he did have the starring role in the school play, “We Shook the Family Tree.” In 1956 he earned a degree in History with minors in Greek and English from Asbury College (now Asbury University) in Wilmore, KY. In addition to being the sports editor for the college newspaper, Bob played shortstop on the “Eagles” class inter-mural softball team, which won the championship all four years he was there. He also played the lead in the Junior Class play, “The Enchanted Cottage,” and was selected as one of two seniors to sponsor the in-coming freshman class.

After college, Bobby D. attended Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves, MO, for one year, before transferring to and earning a Master’s Degree from Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill, in 1959. He was ordained into the ministry of the United Methodist Church, serving as Assistant Pastor of Bellefontaine UMC for two years, minister of Charbonier UMC in Florissant from 1961 to 1970, and Assistant Minister at St. Mark’s UMC in Florissant, from 1970-72, during which time he also received a Master’s Degree in English from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Ill, with an eye toward teaching.

The opportunity to enter the classroom came when he met Bill Hampton, the Principal of McCluer North H.S., who, despite Bob’s lack of teaching credentials, sent him to the Superintendent of Personnel with a contract across which Bill had written in bold strokes: “I want this man on my staff!” Reluctantly, because of a surplus of teachers at that time, the Superintendent agreed that he’d hire Bob, provided he could get a temporary teaching certificate by the time school opened in the Fall. Thanks to the help and wizardry of Dickson Young, the head of Drury College’s Education Department, and a summer stint of “student teaching” in the Federal Prison at Springfield, MO, Bob received a lifetime certificate and began his teaching career in the Fall of 1973 at McCluer North High School. Thus, his career as a preacher ended and he began to work in the real world, as he put it. He taught a variety of courses in English, Social Studies, and History, ran the after-school detention program for several years, served as Director of Student Activities, and taught the Yearbook class, helping his students earn All-American Scholastic Honors for the 1987 edition of Polaris entitled “This Book’s For You.” In 1988, he was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the Ferguson-Florissant Board of Education.

In 1990, he became a Dean of Students at McCluer High School, but after five years of doing mostly disciplinary work, happily returned to the classroom at North until he retired in 1997, along with his wife, Carol, affectionately known as “CJ” by all who knew her best. Which brings us to his family.

While attending Asbury, Bob met and fell in love with Carol Ann while coaching the women’s basketball team on which she was a stalwart defensive player. CJ’s father was the minister of First United Methodist Church in St. Charles, MO, and they were married there by her dad and her brother Willard on Bob’s birthday June 14, 1957. They had two children, Suzanne and David. Suzanne married Michael Steevens and they adopted two children from St. Petersburg, Russia: Kathryn and Jackson. David married Laverne Brooks and they also have two children, Matthew and Grace.

After retiring from teaching—Carol taught vocal music in the Ferguson-Florissant School District for 34 years—they moved to North Georgia and built a home in a golfing community called Bent Tree, where they lived for 18 years until Carol’s death on January 2, 2014. A few months later, Bob moved to O’Fallon, Missouri, where he enjoyed the commaraderie of his family, colleagues, and friends.

Throughout his lifetime, Bob was an avid golfer with a handicap hovering around 13, a die-hard fan of Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods, and long-time competitor of his brother-in-law Willard Jones. He kept his brain active by working crossword puzzles, especially those of the New York Times, and Cryptoquips. He also enjoyed reading, writing, public speaking, listening to Jazz and Classical music, attending shows at the Fox, traveling, and cooking (he referred to himself as “Chef Bob-R-D”), Cardinals baseball, Duke and Kentucky basketball, punning, and politics. He was thrilled to vote for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, but despised Donald Trump, who was soundly defeated by Joe Biden in the 2020 election, during which Bob served as an election official. He proudly boasted that over his lifetime, he lived under sixteen U. S. presidents from Roosevelt to Biden (and, unfortunately Trump.) Most recently, he served on the Board of Trustees for the Villas of Turtle Creek in O’Fallon, MO, where he lived his final years. Above all, he enjoyed being with his much-loved family.

In September 2025, Bob was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-small Cell Lung Cancer, for which he underwent treatments.

If it sounds like Bob might have written this obituary, it’s because he did. His ashes will be interred at Crutzinger Cemetery near Warsaw, MO, alongside his life-long sweetheart, CJ.

Added by his children: Dad died Sunday, October 4, 2026. Celebration of Life Open House is planned Saturday, November 28, 2026 at Rendezvous Cafe on Main Street, O’Fallon, MO, from 12:00 noon- 4:00 pm. Lunch provided.