Jessye Louise (Curts) Dekau, 97, of Cape Canaveral, Florida, formerly of Wabash, died at 4:39 pm, Sunday, January 1, 2017 at Cape Canaveral Hospital in Cocoa Beach, Florida. She was born April 4, 1919 in Bridgeport, Illinois to Hollie “Pat” and Theora (Miller) Curts.
Jessye graduated from Bridgeport Township High School in 1936, and attended MacMurray College. She married Bernard Dekau on September 23, 1939, in Bridgeport, Illinois and moved to Wabash, IN in 1946; he died in 1992. She and her husband were the owners of the Hotel Indiana (now Charley Creek Inn and previously The Red Apple Inn) from 1946-1976. She was in charge of personnel, the dining room, restoration, marketing and interior design. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Wabash Country Club, member and past president of the Womans Clubhouse Association and a member and past president of Delta Theta Tau Sorority. She relocated to Cocoa Beach, Florida in 2004. Jessye was an avid golfer, bridge player, superb cook and hostess with a talent for interior design and business. She leaves a legacy of accomplishment, talent, lifelong friendships and a devoted loving family. “Joy she gave, Joy she has found.”
She is survived by her daughter, Susan Bilder of Cape Canaveral, Florida; seven grandchildren, Cindy (Bill) Sinclair Gravatt of Leo, Indiana, Kyle Sinclair of Cocoa Beach, Florida, Eric (Michelle) Sinclair of Merritt Island, Florida, Hite (Deb) Sinclair of Carmel, Indiana, Nicole Talmage Madeux of Merritt Island, Nils (Amie) Dekau of Austin, Texas, and Alicia (Brent) Dekau Berglund of Carmel; 21 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her son, Bernard Dekau, Jr. who died in 2010, grandson Ted Talmage who died in 1992, three brothers and three sisters.
Funeral services will be 2pm Saturday, January 7, 2017 at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, on January 7, 2017 at 2:00 pm with Pastor John Cook officiating. Entombment will be in the Chapel of Remembrance Mausoleum at Memorial Lawns Cemetery, Wabash. Friends may call 12:30-2pm Saturday, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers please make memorial contributions to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation, P.O Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741.