Delbert joined the Navy in 1943 and served as a gunner on merchant and Navy troop and supply ships in the European, Mediterranean and Pacific Theaters. In 1946 he married the love of his life, Genevieve Mae Diels, and the family settled initially in the Town of Hammel where he farmed and engaged in logging. In 1950 the family moved to West Plains, MO where Delbert honed his skills in carpentry, constructing 9 new homes. In 1963 the family moved back to the Town Hammel, where Delbert was a dairy farmer and carpenter, constructing 24 new homes and renovating many other homes and barns.
Delbert was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, where he served on the Building Committee, and the Boxrucker-Barry American Legion Post 519 of Stetsonville, WI.
Delbert is survived by his sister, Lyndoll Wells of Medford, WI, and children: Dale of Allen, TX; Bruce and his wife Sharon (Emmerich) of Mount Vernon, IL; Dawn of Medford, WI; Pamela and her husband Bruce Emmerich of Phillips, WI; David and his wife Mary (Kretschmer) of Melissa, TX; Kevin and his wife Leza (Malstrom) of Medford, WI; Susan and her husband Joseph Belzer of St. Louis Park, MN; Deirdre of Marshfield, WI; Ethan (deceased) and his wife, Tina (Boelk) of Medford, WI; James and significant other Sandi Kuenne of Medford, WI; and Melody and her husband Tim Mueller of Mosinee, WI; 28 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.
Delbert is preceded in death by his wife Genevieve; parents, Harry David Wells and Bonnie Louise (Alexander) Wells; a brother, James; and a son, Ethan John.
Funeral services for Delbert will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, July 28, 2015 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in the town of Holway, with Pastor Lowell Bolstad officiating. Burial will follow in Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 27, 2015 at Hemer Funeral Home, Medford Chapel, from 4:00 – 7:00 PM, and also on Thursday from 9:00 AM to 10:45 AM at the church.
Honorary Pallbearers are the former military members of the family Lyndoll Wells, Bruce Wells, Dawn Wells, Bruce Emmerich, David Wells and Kevin Wells. His grandchildren Scott Wells, Lynda (Wells) Brock, Jarrod Wells, Kyle Wells, Nicholas Wells, Cody Wells, Ashley (Wells) Vasquez, Lucas Wells, Tonya (Emmerich) Brost, Kara (Emmerich) Sperl, Travis Wells, Nathaniel Wells, Joshua Wells, Benjamin Wells, Kimberly Wells, Lauren Wells, Neill Nettesheim, William Wells, Lucas Nettesheim, James Nettesheim, Aaron Belzer, Brian Belzer, Adam Belzer, Megan (Novinska) Harris, Justin Novinska, Brittany Wells, Samantha (Wells) Brackmann and Bonnie (Wells) Fischer will serve as pallbearers.
Full Military Honors will be performed by the Stetsonville American Legion Military Honors Team
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Delbert’s name to Hope Hospice, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, or Aspirus Medford Hospital Foundation.
Hemer Funeral Service has been entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.hemerfuneralservice.com.
