Veteran firefighter Steven M. Decker remembered as mentor, father figure during funeral

As youngsters, Steven M. Decker and his kid brother Jim would tool around on their bikes, pretending to be firefighters saving people in danger.

Decades later, Decker joined the Chicago Fire Department’s Engine 71, which his brother described as Decker’s “life.”

“You guys,” Jim Decker said directly to the unit, while delivering his eulogy at St. Paul Lutheran Church Friday morning on the Northwest Side. “He was so proud of you. So proud to work with you.”

Decker, 61, died May 14 during a training exercise. He was an engineer on Engine Company 71 in West Ridge and had been with the department for nearly 30 years.

Bagpipers gathered outside and firefighters made their way into the church as services began shortly after 10 a.m. Standing next to a firetruck decorated with flowers and ribbons, fire department officials carried Decker’s casket, draped in an Illinois flag, as dozens followed into the church.

Lt. Andrew Paukert, who worked in the same firehouse as Decker, said their unit had not experienced a line-of-duty loss in more than 50 years.

“We’re kind of like a family,” Paukert said, “and especially later in time here, Steve was more like a father figure.”

Paukert said he and Decker joined Engine Company 71 on the same day in 2012. After gaining experience on the team, Decker had taken the younger firefighters under his wing.

“He has some younger guys now that were on his shift,” Paukert said. “He kind of looked at them as his kids and tried to take care of them, tried to teach them.”

Battalion Chief Craig Dziedzic, who went through fire department academy with Decker, described him as kind and hardworking.

“He would give you the shirt off his back. He’s just always with a smile on his face,” Dziedzic said.

Dziedzic said Decker was “just everything you want in a fireman.”

Decker had planned to retire at the end of the year, said relatives and friends.

Amid firetrucks flashing their lights, groups of white-gloved, uniformed firefighters began walking into the church as the funeral got underway. Firefighters saluted a firetruck covered in flowers, ribbons and the Chicago Cubs logo. The truck was carrying Decker’s squad members.

By 10:10 a.m., Decker’s casket was carried into the church with relatives nearby.

Before heading into the church, Arlene Schiestel and George Schiestel, Decker’s godparents, told the Chicago Sun-Times firefighting is a point of connection in the family.

Decker’s father was a firefighter and Decker’s son is a firefighter in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Decker was also a grandfather to a baby that his godparents said is about 2 years old.

Even Decker’s nickname stemmed from an older term for fire hydrants.

“We learned yesterday … his nickname was ‘Plug,'” George Schiestel said, “and that Steven was built like a fireplug ever since he was a little kid.”