Memorial services for James R. Delger, age 81, of Albert Lea, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home. Father Russell Scepaniak will officiate. Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Wednesday. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.
Jim died Thursday, March 16, 2017, at his home following a courageous battle with cancer surrounded by his loving family.
James Richard Delger was born on November 20, 1935 in Kanawha, Iowa, the son of Jacob and Grace (Terhaek) Delger. Jim married Sharon Lang in 1956 and had two children, Randy and Roxie. The couple later divorced. On November 9, 1985, Jim married Gwendolyn Rayman at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea immediately forming a large family with Gwenâs six children and Jimâs two children. Jim worked for 33 years at Wilsonâs. Following his retirement, he worked at Good Samaritan Center and McDonaldâs in maintenance. Jim enjoyed fishing, gardening, working in the yard, and working on his boat. He loved spending time with family and friends, barbeques, watching Wheel of Fortune and the Minnesota Twins with Gwen, and taking trips to Diamond Joâs Casino.
Jim is survived by his wife of 31 years, Gwen; children, Cheryl (Paul) Skatter of Albert Lea, Susan (Mickey) Myers of Big Fork, MN, Cindy (Bob) Solomonson of Mesa, AZ, Sara (Greg) Higgins of Owatonna, MN, David (Rio) Rayman of Tempe, AZ, Amy (Mohammad) Belal of Rochester, MN, Randy Delger of Freeborn, MN, and Roxie (Steve) Poliak of River Falls, WI; 23 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren; brothers, Anno (Donna) Delger of Glenville, MN and Kermit Delger of Albert Lea; sister, Jenny Hove of Albert Lea; and many nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents; daughter-in-law, Nancy Delger; and grandson, Micah Myers.