RVBusiness: Elkhart Community Holds ‘Celebration of Life’ for Art Decio

This article originally ran in RVBusiness. 

Nearly two years after he passed away at the age of 90, legendary Elkhart businessman and philanthropist Arthur J. “Art” Decio’s family, friends and associates set aside a special moment on Oct. 19 to honor him in a pandemic-delayed “Celebration of Life” ceremony that culminated in the unveiling of a statue of Decio and his wife, Pat, in downtown Elkhart.

The tribute took place both inside and outside the Lerner Theatre, one of a wide array of charitable organizations that benefited from the non-profit outreach of Decio, an Elkhart native who first made a name for himself as the CEO of mobile home and RV builder Skyline Corp. – a company that Decio’s father, Julius, started in a rented garage that ultimately became the nation’s largest manufactured housing builder.

“I would say it’s a special moment,” said Pete McCown, president of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, which hosted Wednesday’s event along with the Rex and Alice A. Martin Foundation and Crossroads United Way. “We’ve been waiting two years to pay tribute to one of our patron saints for the city of Elkhart and the Elkhart community”

Read the full article from RVBusiness here.