Ira "Ed" Delk
June 18, 2020
Ira “Ed” Delk, 90, passed away peacefully on June 18, 2020, in Sioux City, Iowa. He was born on January 21, 1930, in Weldon, Iowa, the son of Charles and Bernice Delk.
Ed graduated from North High School in Des Moines and began attending Drake University in 1947. He entered the United States Air Force in 1951 where he served until his honorable discharge in 1955. He met his wife, Barbara Grovier, at Gatchel Methodist Church in Des Moines. They were married on October 20, 1951, in Denver, Colorado, and were blessed with a son in 1959 and a daughter in 1961.
Ed earned his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1958, and worked as a corporate lawyer for IPS, now MidAmerica for more than 30 years. Although he put in long hours, he still made his family a priority. In his later years, Ed was an instructor at Western Iowa Tech in Sioux City. Retiring in 1990, Ed and Barbara moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas, where they resided for 25 years.
He was a devoted member of St. James United Methodist Church where he volunteered countless hours and taught Sunday school on a regular basis.
Ed was extremely active, always looking for his next adventure. He obtained his pilot’s license in 1978 and enjoyed flying smaller aircraft. He was an accomplished author, producing 9 publications from books to poems. Ed also enjoyed golfing and pheasant hunting in his spare time.
Ed and Barbara loved travelling the U.S. and around the world together until her passing in 2015. He then moved back to Iowa to be closer to his family.
Ed had a contagious personality. He was the greatest storyteller, he loved cracking jokes, and he most certainly never met a stranger. Ed will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Ed is survived by his brothers, Richard (Joyce) Delk of Pleasant Hill and James (Grace) Delk of Wisconsin; his children, Steven Delk of Des Moines and Linda (Gary) Rubel of Sioux City; 8 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews, as well as his beloved dog, Lucky.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Bernice; wife, Barbara; brothers, Charles and Robert; and 3 sisters, Virginia, Marjorie, and Mary.
Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2020, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue in Des Moines with burial to follow at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. The family will receive visitors at the funeral home from 12-2 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Hospice of Siouxland in loving memory of Ira “Ed” Delk.
Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Marv and Myrna Sorensen
06/24/2020
Ed and Marv worked together at IPS. We enjoyed spending time with Ed and Barb on business travels and socializing with friends. Ed's knowledge of history and the Bible were to be admired. He will be missed but our memories of him will live forever. We send our sympathy to his family.
Holli Carpenter
06/23/2020
What a pleasure and honor to have experienced a conversation with Mr. Delk. Each conversation was always a joyful experience and an exchange of humor. I have not had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Delk in person ; however, my visual description of him placed a larger than life man with much knowledge & always willing to share his knowledge. Humor was in each sentence in a dry format. I looked forward to the next phone call. Rest in Peace, Mr. Delk. I value our conversations.
Joyce Kaiser
06/23/2020
Ed has been a WONDERFUL friend to me...as we've discussed Hillcrest Adoption agency- I was adopted from there 1954, our writing abilities and Ed shared tips and ideas, his books, and I just enjoyed him very much. I first met him when he went to First United Meth. and then finally at Wesley United Methodist Church. here in Sioux City. My prayers are to you the family, and take care. Fun guy!
David Blair
06/22/2020
I was privileged to work with & for Ed when he was General Counsel for IPS. But mostly, I was really privileged to golf & fish with him and listen to his tales of wit and wisdom - and he had wonderful tales to tell. Ed was a grand man - so smart & humane, caring & wise. And Ed & Barb were two dear souls we will miss for a long time.
Sending sincere condolences to Eds family...
Mike and Claryce Welch
06/22/2020
Our condolences to Ed's family. Linda and I worked at Unity Point-Sioux City (St. Luke's) until my retirement. ED will truly be missed here at the Village Cooperative in Sioux City. We enjoyed his quiet dry sense of humor and also enjoyed his furry friend, Lucky. RIP Ed.
Shari J Monckton
06/22/2020
Ed was a treasure at morning coffees at the Village Coop in Sioux City. His knowledge of history and trivia overwhelmed us all. We will miss Ed and we will miss his companion, Lucky.
Lowell & Corrinne Reed
06/22/2020
Our condolences to the Delk family. Ed was so knowledgable and had such vast interests that he touched the lives of many people. He will be missed.
Steve Weiss
06/21/2020
Ed had a profoundly positive impact on my life as well as that of my family. First, Ed persuaded me to move from Chicago to Sioux City for work. Second, his handling of employees was something I tried to emulate. Third, he was a role model for having a great retirement.
Ed and Barb were always kind to our family. They even impersonated my parents to visit us when our second child was in intensive care.
They will be missed, but not forgotten.
Thomas Cole
06/21/2020
In the middle 1940's I lived
across the alley from the Delk family and attended Gatchel Methodist Church. We had a great Youth Fellowship. We had several marriages including mine ( Ruth Kline ) from the group.
I have many fond memories of the Delk family..