John F. Deckenbach

Deckenbach John F. Deckenbach Jr., retired businessman and longtime Edina resident, died March 19th at his home in San Diego. He was born December 11, 1919, in Orange, New Jersey, to John F. Deckenbach and Elsa Hardy Deckenbach. He is survived by his wife, Jane Roberts Deckenbach; four children, Janet of Chicago, John (Jean) of Cincinnati, Joe (Jane) of Minneapolis, and Jude (Dave) of San Francisco; his brother, Larry (Dolores) of Cape May, New Jersey; and seven grandchildren. Deckenbach was graduated from Orange High School, attended Brown University, and after graduating from New York University with a degree in accounting, worked in New York City for Cushman Wakefield. He served in the U.S. Army in Europe, and returned to New York City to work for Peat Marwick (now KPMG). He later moved to Chicago to join American Linen Supply Co. (ALSCO), which relocated its headquarters to Minneapolis in 1959. Deckenbach was the chief financial officer for ALSCO (now AmeriPride), and retired in 1983, but continued to serve as a consultant and member of its board of directors. After more than 40 years with the company, he enrolled at the National University School of Law in San Diego, and was graduated in 1991. Generous with his time and resources, Deckenbach sat on several boards for non-profits, and also quietly raised funds for religious organizations and charitable projects. These included the Viking Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and the National Catholic Committee on Scouting. Memorial Masses will be held on Tuesday, March 26, at 11 am at St. Brigid's Church in Pacific Beach, California and on Saturday, May 11, at Our Lady of Grace Church in Edina, Minnesota.

Published on March 24, 2002