Samuel A. ?Sam? Dekanek, 90, of Mohawk, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday August 13, 2007. He was born June 16, 1917 in Little Falls, the son of the late John & Anna (Bachorik) Dekanek, and was educated in Little Falls schools. He worked at several farms in the area as a young man. Sam was among the first in the area to go to war in January 1942. After training Sam proudly served as a dozer tank driver earning the rank of Technican 5th Grade, in the 17th Armored Engineers, 2nd Armored Division, U.S. Army. He earned six battle stars with Patton?s ?Hell on Wheels? division. He saw action in North Africa, landing in Casablanca taking part in the Fighting at Beja, Tunisia. He was with the division when it entered Sicily and made an assault landing at Gela. His dozer tank was there on Normandy, D-Day plus three and went into action racing across France, driving through Belguim, breaching the hedgerows so the Colunm could proceed. They crossed the German Border in September, 1944. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and the Ardennes Forest in deep snow clearing the area of the enemy. He served duty in Berlin and returned to Mohawk at the conclusion of the war. Sam was employed at Standard Furniture, Herkimer, for 25 years, and the Remington Arms Company for eight years before retiring. He married Stella Kosmoski Kroll on July 3, 1948. She passed away on the 2nd of May of this year. Sam enjoyed his home and tinkering with his machinery. He especially prized his Farmall Cub tractor and it was among his first purchases after the war. Sam will be remembered as a man with a good sense of humor; quick with a rejoinder and persnickety about ?Put it back where it belongs.? He is survived by his son, Charles Dekanek of West Winfield, his daughter, Helen Potter and husband Leigh of Vancouver, Washington, step-children, Johanna Kroll Stowell and husband Richard and Joseph Kroll all of Mohawk, a brother, Walter Dekanek and wife Lois of Globe, Arizona, a sister-in-law, Hazel Dekanek of Laramie, WY, and a special niece, Olga Bleecker of Honey Brook, PA. He has four grandchildren, one great grandson, four step-grandchildren, and seven step- great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was pre-deceased by a sister, Anna, and brothers, John & Paul. Funeral services will be held on Friday August 17, 2007 at 11:00 am from the Enea Family Funeral Home, 220 N. Washington St., Herkimer, NY with Sister Mary Jo Tallman, parish Life Director of Blessed Sacrament Church officiating. Burial will be in Dennison Corners Cemetery, Mohawk with full military honors. Friends and relatives may call at the funeral home, on Friday August 17, 2007 from 10:00 am until the time of the services. In lieu of flowers, please make all memorial contributions to Hospice & Palliative Care Inc. 4277 Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford, NY 13413 or the Blessed Sacrament Church of Mohawk. The family wishes to thank Dr. Tepsiri, Dr. Dodds, Dr. Bauer, Dr. Cook, and Diane Yaciuk at Cooperstown Bassett Hospital, and also Hospice & Palliative Care for the care and attention to Sam and his loved ones during this time.