"Challenges make us stronger and better," Decker wrote on his YouTube profile. "With creativity and patience, we are capable of much more than we ever imagined."

Decker's sphere of influence reached farther than his parents imagined. Sean McHugh, 44, of Catasauqua, Pa. — a friend of Decker who inspired him to post instructional videos on YouTube — said he attended an Amputee Coalition of America convention a while ago, and several people talked to him about Decker's videos. They said they hoped to bring Decker out to a convention to speak to fellow amputee survivors.

"They were very impressed for how well he was doing," McHugh said.

Abe Niederhauser — a longtime friend — said Decker was an outstanding individual who was never down on life, even after he lost his hand in the accident.

"I was probably more devastated about it than he was," Niederhauser said.

Decker's sister, Emily, said her brother was an energetic individual who often did things just to show people he was still capable, such as driving a stick shift with his hook prosthetic.

Decker's girlfriend, Jenae Walker, said he drove a stick-shift car on the night of their first date. She also said he still liked to light off fireworks.

"He still thought they were cool," she smiled faintly.

The family is glad to have recovered the body, Lyle Decker said, but they don't like to think they've reached "closure."

"Our love continues," he said. "There's nothing to close. He's just visiting somewhere else for a while."

The family set up a Web site — www.craig-decker.com — where friends and acquaintances can post their memories of Decker. They also plan to set up a scholarship fund in his memory.

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E-mail: jdana@desnews.com