"My thoughts and prayers are with you all "
In loving memory of
Michael "Tike" "Mike" E. Delehant
January 16, 1935 - September 24, 2018
Michael E. Delehant, Jr., son of the late Michael E. and Mary Ellen (Ryan) Delehant, Sr., was born January 16, 1935 on the family farm in rural Imogene, Iowa. Mike passed away on September 24, 2018 at Accura Healthcare in Stanton, Iowa at the age of 83.
Mike grew up on the family farm, raised livestock cattle, hogs and did custom baling small square bales. Started school at the age of four because his older sister wouldn't go without him because he told her all she'd miss out on, on her first day of school! He graduated from St. Patrick's School with the class of 1952 at the age of 17.
Mike served his country in the U. S. Army from 1957 until 1959, serving in the Strategic Army Corp at Ft. Riley, Ft. Rucker and Death Valley.
Mike was united in marriage to Patricia "Trish" Madsen on December 9, 1967 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Imogene. They resided at the Delehant farm home.
Mike was a lifelong farmer. He was a member of the St. Patrick's Parish of Imogene, altar boy server, St. Patrick's Parish Council, Knights of Columbus member and Monroe Township Fire Board Committee. He enjoyed reading, visiting with friends, family and strangers (he didn't know a stranger), playing checkers with grandkids, coffee with the guys to catch up on "news" and going to the sale barn. He was a hard worker, worked his whole life, wonderful provider for his family, taught his kids the value of a dollar "if you can't pay cash you don't need it", valued education, was a whiz at math and could do math in his head that others needed a calculator for, always had time to play cards or checkers with his grandkids and loved a good joke.
Mike was preceded in death by his daughter Mary Lusajo (2017), sisters Rosemary (Dareld) Mauer and Pat Erickson, brother-in-law Willis Hurst and in-laws Joe and Ruby Madsen.
Mike is survived by his wife of 50 years, Trish of Essex; son, Todd (Jamie) Delehant and family of Rhode Island; daughters, Michelle (Joel) Harrison of North Carolina, Melissa (Doug) Chambers of Essex and Amy (Cary) Delehant-Roberts of Omaha, son-in-law John Lusajo; grandchildren Emily and Evan Harrison, Austine, Jordan, Camryn, Rhys and Liam Chambers, Anthony and Zane Delehant-Roberts and Elijah, Isaiah and Malaika Lusajo; siblings Joan (Larry) Bruce, Rita Hurst and Don (Polly) Delehant, numerous nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law and cousins.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 am, Saturday, September 29, 2018 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Imogene.
Visitation with the family will be held from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm, Friday, September 28, 2018 at the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home in Shenandoah.
Burial will be held at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Imogene with military rites provided by the Shenandoah American Legion Post 88 Color Guard.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the family.
Tributes
"Mike was a great friend of our family at the Clarinda Livestock auction. We enjoyed him and his love of livestock. It is guys like him that made our job so enjoyable. God Bless your family. John and George Crawford"
"I am so sorry for your loss of Mike!"
"He loved his tomatoes and melons. We enjoyed giving him them. We will miss Him but we will come and see U Trish. Take care. The family is in are thoughts and prayers."
"To the Delehant Family, So sorry for the loss of your loved one. Anne Chambers"
"Dear Mike I have so many fun memories of you. I will never forget you."
"Uncle Mike - What a great guy! He will be missed dearly. Always had a story to tell and when his grandkids all came along - he had a funny story to tell about each one of them. Prayers to his family and friends. Deb Bruce"