Charles “Chuck” Delfs, 87

Charles “Chuck” Delfs, 87, of Gladbrook, IA, passed away Thursday, March 16, 2023, at Westbrook Acres in Gladbrook, IA. Memorial services will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 24, 2023, at Peace United Church of Christ in Gladbrook. Visitation will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 23, 2023, at Peace United Church of Christ. In lieu of flowers, Chuck’s wishes were to have memorials directed to the Gladbrook-Lincoln Ambulance Service. Anderson Funeral Homes of Gladbrook has been entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com.

Charles Duane Delfs was born on October 6, 1935, to Rudolph and Frances (Hoadley) Delfs in Marshalltown, IA. He graduated from Gladbrook High School in 1953, and went on to serve in the US Navy from 1955 to 1957 on the USS Bremerton. He married Shirley Murphy in 1958, and the two were blessed with six children. He later was remarried to Sherrill (Sherry) Lewis in August of 1995. Chuck was a self-employed farmer for 27 years before retirement. Among this passion, he also worked for the City of Gladbrook for eight years, and drove school bus for the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community Schools for 18 years. He was an active member in his community by serving a seat on the Gladbrook City Council for eight years, and was a 20-year volunteer on the Gladbrook-Lincoln Ambulance Service. He was a lifelong member of Peace United Church of Christ in Gladbrook, where he was also a previous board member. Chuck recently received a prestigious award just this past January, a silver medallion in recognition for 50 years of sobriety from Alcoholics Anonymous, where he was an active member. His love of Minneapolis Moline Tractors was known by many, and he could be seen in many parades and tractor rides in his restored 1946 “R.” He even initiated and was in charge of the Gladbrook Corn Carnival Tractor Ride for many years. Chuck had a love for country western movies, tractors and his family.

Chuck will be missed by his six children: Tim Delfs, of Garwin, IA, Randy (Hannah Ding) Delfs, of Allen, TX, Barb Gray, of Fontanelle, IA, David (Carissima Lukach) Delfs, of Cokato, MN, Ron (Jen) Delfs, of Anita, IA, and Deb (Jim) Osborn, of Gladbrook, IA, along with six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Sherry, two sisters; Mary (Susie) Kliebenstein and Margaret (Peggy) Sonkens, two brothers-in-law; Don Kliebenstein and Elmer Sonkens and a nephew, Jeff Kliebenstein.