By Angela Satterlee
The Deckers come from a long line of pilots and aviation enthusiasts as they now have five generations who have attended AirVenture. Ken Decker’s grandfather and father were both pilots, so it made sense when Ken, EAA 52084, decided to fly for a living as a corporate pilot, along with managing an airport and running a flight school. “Aviation has been in my blood since the day I was born,” he said.
In fact, aviation started so early for the Deckers that no one in the family can remember their first flight — they were all under a year old when they first took to the sky. That early exposure set the tone for a lifelong passion for flying and the aviation community.
Ken attended his first AirVenture when he was 9 years old, and this year marks his 54th convention. Wanting to share that love for EAA and aviation that his grandfather and father shared with him, he started bringing his children to Oshkosh where the aviation bug continued.
After years of attending AirVenture, Ken wanted to do more to help out so he followed in his father’s footsteps and started volunteering. He started out working at Boeing Plaza, quickly becoming the co-chair and then chairman, before transitioning to Camp Scholler Registration where he currently volunteers. Since joining as a volunteer, Ken has brought his children and grandchildren to help out.
Ken’s son Nick Decker attended his first AirVenture was when he was just 1 year old, and he joined his father in volunteering at just 12 years old. His first job was working at camper registration pulling apart wristbands, but he spent much of his time exploring the grounds and meeting fellow aviation lovers. Now, years later, Nick, EAA 1214428, remains a dedicated volunteer alongside Ken.
Ken and Nick work closely with security to ensure that all campers have a safe and enjoyable experience. They’ve had great experiences working with EAA employees and fellow volunteers, and they speak highly of the camaraderie within their group.
Together, Ken and Nick have become familiar faces in Camp Scholler. Up until the Wednesday before AirVenture begins, they make it a point to get to know as many campers as possible. After that, things get too busy — but they always do their best to connect with the community.
“The people I meet — that makes it all worth it,” Ken said. “So, there’s some issues here and there, but for the most part it’s a really good group, good crowd. … I’ve met some really, really good people, and we’re still very good friends to this day for many, many years. That’s our payback.”
Nick especially enjoys welcoming first-time attendees. His favorite part of volunteering is giving newcomers a short tour of the grounds.
“That’s because you get to see the wonder is the best way to describe it,” he said. “Because they come here thinking they’re going to see a regular air show like anywhere else, and then they realize how big it is as you’re giving them this tour, and they’re just in awe of everything.”
As the sun rises over Camp Scholler each July, Ken and Nick are already hard at work welcoming campers, solving problems, and sharing in the excitement that fills the air. For them, volunteering is about people, passion, and preserving a legacy that spans generations.