Sig & Helen Decker

Sig Decker (Siggy) was born in Ketchikan and raised in Wrangell.  He loved hunting, wrestling, basketball, fishing and his friends & family.  He was co-captain of the Wrangell Wrestling team and he played basketball for many years.  His years with the wrestling team, and coaches, were a big part of his life - further influencing his work ethic, social connections and inclusivity.  Sig loved music and enjoyed playing alto saxaphone in several bands at WHS, including the jazz and pep bands.  Sig did have his nerdy side, playing Magic Cards and World of Warcraft.

As a Senior, Sig was a co-valedictorian, graduating with the WHS Class of 2017.  He went on to attend the University of Southern California (USC), where he entered the Marshall School of Business.  Sig periodically wrestled with the USC Team, and he joined the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, helping to cultivate a large friend group during his three short years at USC.

Sig fished on his family's boat, the F/V McCrea, starting at age 5, until he was 16yrs old.  Throughout those formative years, he built a solid work ethic, created lasting memories and learned about the ever-evolving fishing industry.  Up next, Sig began fishing with Bobby Thorstenson, initially on the F/V Magnus Martens, and then on to the F/V Vigilant, with his sister, Helen.  Sig had worked his way up to "DeckBoss", then helped to train his sister as "skiffman", this year.  They were a dinamo team.

Sig tackled everything in life with 110% effort.  He was the life of the party, and cosidered himself an excellent dancer - or so he thought!  Sig would be honored if all of his friend and family, played some funky music, shook their booties and remembered his spirit.

Helen Francis Decker (The Beast) was born in Wrangell, delivered by the family's doctor, Lynn Prysunka.  Helen grew up in Wrangell, where she fell in love with arts & crafts, fishing, tie-dying, writing and sports - espeically basketball!  Helen had big love for her friends and family.  

Helen was co-captain of the WHS Cross Country, Volleyball and Basketball Teams, helping to lead both the Volleyball and Basketball teams to a Regional Championship, and State Tournaments.

Helen graduated from WHS in 2019.  She was co-valedictorian.  Helen went on to attend the University of California San Diego, approximately two hours South from her brother, Siggy.  They would often visit eachother, building a solid friend group with strong bonds.  Helen was studying sciences, and had a wide variety of interests - including art, astronomy, and oceanography.

Helen started fishing with her family at age 5, on the F/V MCrea.  From this experience she learned a solid work ethic, created unforgetable memories and fell in love with the natural world.  At 18, Helen began fishing for the Thorstenson family, under the Magnus Thorstenson on the F/V Island Pride.  This year, she fished on board the F/V Vigilant with her brother, Sig - under Bobby Thorstenson, where she became "Skiffman".

Helen brought love, laughter and light everywhere she went.  She made everyone around her feel comfortable, lifting others up and encouraging self-confidence.  She was a strong leader, and a total badass.  Yet, she was sensitve, emphathic and caring. She loved adventure and treasured the beauty in life.  Several years ago, Helen told her parents that when she died, she would want to have her ashes put into fireworks and set off over the water.  Helen would be honored if all of her friends and family remember her while enjoying the sunset, or any scene of beauty.