Decatur Republican

12/10/2025

07/10/2025

A fun video. First Baptist will be doing the soup supper this Friday 😂

27/09/2025

The VFW Auxiliary put on a great dinner tonight...three soups & Chili was great.

14/08/2025

This dinner is always a good one...please share this.
500 West St. Mary's Street. $15

03/07/2025

Oven-fried chicken, potato salad, beans, coleslaw & a drink for $10.....dessert $1 extra...............you cannot beat that price. “Every bite of chicken is a reminder of life’s simple pleasures.” AT THE VFW AFTER THE PARADE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS.💕

30/06/2025

July 4th is Independence Day, also known as the Fourth of July, and is a federal holiday in the United States which commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America. Memorial Day honors fallen military personnel, while Veterans Day celebrates all veterans, living and deceased.

In the parade on the 4th we celebrate our Decatur veterans on a float. Over the past few years the float has changed because ..sadly, we have lost so many of the people we loved, who defended our country during WWII.
Pictured are just a few of the men who have since left us.
Doc Hastings wrote: We owe our World War II veterans - and all our veterans - a debt we can never fully repay.

26/06/2025

Decatur Human Services said goodbye to Linda Gates today with a surprise luncheon after their monthly meeting. Linda has been a faithful worker with our organisation for four years , serving as chairman the last two. . We will miss Linda so much… her friendly hugs, southern accent, and her willingness to help the people of Decatur!!

24/06/2025

First Presbyterian Closes Its Doors

Sunday, June 22nd, 2025 was a sad day that will go down in the history of our town. After the service, and the people left, the doors of First Presbyterian Church of Decatur closed. The building will be for sale.

Presbyterians have been a mainstay in Decatur for 173 years. The first church was built in 1856 on St. Mary’s directly behind the present one. Rev. Marcus Harrison, an Evangelist, donated the land.

The membership grew quickly, and by 1868 they were worshiping in their new building on Delaware. The church on St. Mary’s Street was then sold to the Catholics.

In 1917 the church on Delaware went up in flames, but it was rebuilt in two short years by 1919. Over the years the church made many improvements for the comfort of its members.

First Presbyterian has seen many pastors guiding the congregation over the years. This final Sunday saw Rev. Will Christians and Katie Hurnwell in attendance. The service was led by Rev. Gail Monsma, who has gracefully filled the pulpit for the past few years. Laura Po***ck Cerven, visiting from Washington, provided the music. Laura’s mother Jan, was integral to the music for many years in the church.

The final service was filled with people visiting and remembering, including past and present members, and their new Paw Paw family. Following the service a social hour found people reminiscing, with tears in their eyes.

The church is merging with First Presbyterian in Paw Paw. The combined church will be given a new name, and new friends will be made.

The building will still stand on Delaware. The church that witnessed funerals, weddings, boy scout meetings, AA meetings, and 5th Sundays will have a lasting effect on the memories of the people of Decatur. It has witnessed much joy, and sorrow, and in the pews have sat people from all walks of life.

First Presbyterian was my home church for 25 years, the longest I have been a member of any congregation. My wish is that the next occupants will treat it with the reverence it deserves. JMRoeder

09/04/2025

Ministerial Association Leader Pastor Ronnie Coleman

Last week when the paper went to press I realized too late that I hadn’t included a picture I had picked out to include with a story. It was to go with the article about our Fifth Sunday Service at First Presbyterian, and the picture was a special one of Pastor Ronnie Coleman. He is an amazing singer, and this past week he touched my heart with his song, and the picture tells the story.
Then I decided what a great time to write about him, and his contribution to Decatur. Pastor Ronnie is the leader at Emmanuel Church of God in Christ, situated on East St. Mary’s Street.
The Fifth Sunday was started by Pastor Wright of First Baptist, but the Ministerial Association has been around since the seventies. Pastor Ronnie has been the leader for many years.
I have known Pastor Ronnie for many years, maybe close to fifteen. We became better acquainted when we were working on a plan to make the old high school into a community center for everyone to enjoy here in Decatur. Money, lack of interest, etc., put that plan to rest.
When he became the head of the Ministerial Association, a gathering of only churches, the organization totally changed. His goal was to include all facets of Decatur into the group, and that he did.
We all meet once a month over lunch and discuss events, problems, & anything else needed to be said. The group consists of representatives from the school, the police, the village, the library, Bronson Health, Decatur Human Services, plus the churches who take part in it.
I asked a few people to send me a few words about Pastor and Dan Hutchins, Director of the Van Buren District Library wrote: Ronnie Coleman and his colleague, Jim Sebree, were two of the first people I met outside of the organization after beginning my tenure at Van Buren District Library in late 2017. Ronnie is a prime example of the type of individual one is always hoping to meet but one never truly expects to. Ronnie has lived a complicated, interesting life. He toured with Earth, Wind, and Fire as a keyboardist and back-up singer. He’s met at least half a dozen U.S. presidents. He was a high-ranking regional executive at Consumers Energy. But most significantly, Ronnie Coleman is a man of deep faith who lives his beliefs through acts of service and compassion for his fellow people. Ronnie is also a tolerant man. In my relationship with Ronnie Coleman, I have been far from perfect and Ronnie has forgiven me every single time.
Chief of Police, Thomas Vanderwoude wrote: First and foremost, Pastor Coleman has become one of my best friends. He is a very driven and committed man. He is a model for others to follow and never waivers on his faith and commitment to his family. I am blessed to call him my friend and call him a partner is the community events we partner in.
Decatur School Superintendent, Patrick Cregan wrote: Pastor Coleman is a man of faith and integrity who has a commitment to all those he serves and the community of Decatur. I've had the pleasure of knowing Pastor Coleman for several years now and I always look forward to our meetings. He is someone who is dedicated to helping others and is always thinking of his fellow man and woman. The world would be a better place if we had more people like Pastor Coleman!
Although Pastor and wife First Lady Lottie do not live in Decatur, their commitment to Decatur is real. Their church, though small in numbers in town, does a great soup supper for our food pantry, and I am always pleased to be working with him on a project.
My hope that he remains in Decatur for many more years, and always be at Fifth Sunday to enrich our lives with his singing. jmr

08/04/2025

It's a good one.

17/03/2025

this is a good one.