Arthur W. Van Decker

Arthur William Van Decker, age 79, of Wayne, passed peacefully at home.

He was born in Sea Isle City, NJ to Arthur and Yolanda Van Decker and raised in Clifton. He graduated from Clifton High School, where he was President of the Honor Society, with the Class of 1962. He continued his education at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark where he was on the Dean’s List and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering with the Class of 1966.

Art’s work history began when he was just fourteen years old as a golf caddy at the Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton.  After college he worked at the Arrow Group in Wanaque as an Engineer where he worked his way through the corporate ladder to Vice President.  He went on to found Bolton Enterprises in Wayne in 1990, a distribution and sales company that he operated up until his passing.

Arthur met Patricia Shea through friends at Greenwood Lake.  After a first date to Rutt’s Hut in Clifton and a three year courtship Art proposed marriage while at Pat’s mother’s home in Bloomfield. 

Arthur was a man who embodied love, kindness, and a good heart.  He is known as a pop pop to his grandchildren, and they adore him for his loving, amazing strength and caring nature.  He was a strong-willed caretaker, always looking out for the well-being of others and making sure they were taken care of.  He was a hard-working individual who always went above and beyond in everything he did.  Most of all Arthur was the boss and left little doubt about it.  Leading with compassion and understanding, making sure everyone felt loved and supported.  He was a truly remarkable man who is going to be missed by all who knew him. 

He was the loving husband of fifty-eight years to Patricia (nee Shea) Van Decker; loving father of Diana Byrne and her husband Kevin of Montclair, Debbie Nouri and her husband John of Franklin Lakes, and Michelle Gettings and her fiancé Greg Woods of Essex Fells; he was the cherished grandfather of Kevin John Byrne, Ryan Arthur Byrne, Patricia Byrne, Gwenyth Gettings, John Nouri, and Dylan Nouri; he was the loved brother of Connie Van Decker of Little Falls, Judy Gumkowski and her husband Cliff of Montclair, John Van Decker and his wife Patti of Mantoloking, and the late Yolanda Nick (d. 1997). 

Those wishing to make a donate in Art's name are asked to consider the The American Heart Association &American Stroke Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692.