Delmar "Del" Voorhees

Delmar “Del” Voorhees, age 93, of Appleton, passed away Friday, August 27, 2021, in Appleton Area Health-Care Center.  Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m., Wednesday, September 1, 2021, at Zion Lutheran Church in Appleton.  Vicar Sara Larson will officiate.  Burial will be in Appleton City Cemetery.

Delmar Ernest Voorhees was born on December 5, 1927, to Henry and Ethel (Huston) Voorhees on the family farm in Swenoda Township, Swift County, Minnesota.  He grew up on the family farm and attended country school, District 34, through the 8 ^th grade.  During WWII, Del and his brother Jerry stayed home to take care of the farm.  Del married Joan Struxness on March 9, 1950.  This union was blessed with over 64 years together and 5 children: Mark, Cheryl, Ritchie, Mary Jo, and Bradley.

Del worked various jobs after the war: bagging potatoes at a plant in North Dakota, carpentry in Milan and working at a creamery, also in Milan. The Appleton Creamery offered him a job and that started his career as a butter maker.  He entered his butter in the MN State Fair many times and won many awards.  Del and the NFO parted company in 1975.  He purchased the Dew Well Lanes Bowling Center in 1976.  Del and Joan (the cook) operated the Bowling Center until 2001.  After “retirement” he drove the paper van for Quinco Press in Lowry, delivering the weekly papers for 13 years to Dawson, Madison, and Appleton.  Del was also a past Mayor of Appleton.

Del’s hobbies included: gardening, reading by the wood stove, jigsaw puzzles, scrap booking, watching the Twins (if they were winning!) and camping with his brothers and sisters-in-law.  He liked Sundrop and popcorn with lots of butter.  He really enjoyed going on long drives with his special friend, Marlys Bartz.  They drove many miles in the country taking pictures of old barns and farm sites.

Del passed away Friday, August 27, 2021, in Appleton Area Health-Care Center.  He attained 93 years, 8 months, and 22 days of age.  Del is survived by his five children: Mark (Judy Kammer) Voorhees of Eden Prairie, Cheryl Voorhees of Appleton, Ritchie (Mary) Voorhees of Appleton, Mary Jo Hoffman of Roseville and Bradley (Mary) Voorhees of Appleton; his 14 grandchildren: Adrienne (Ian) Mendenhall, Jenna Schiller, Kaitlyn (Travis) Anderson, Nathaniel (Angie) Kettner, Janine (Bryan) Schaffer, Jared (Kara) Voorhees, Joel Voorhees, Michelle Mieka Jo (Nathan) Hoffman, Miranda (Ryan) Arnold, Maggie (Brad) Krzyzanowski, Chris Pesek, Jamey (Michelle) Pesek, Matthew (Jenny) Pesek, and Alison (Matt) Solma; his 28 great-grandchildren: Ruby and James Mendenhall, Alayna Bjerke, Olivia Kettner, Kylie Forslin, Charlie Taintor, Matthew Rautio, Ariana Kettner, Cameron, Jaxton, McKenzie, and baby girl (due in September) Kettner, Lilly, Lucy, Lola and Liv Schaffer, Zeek, Nettie, Della, and Loddie Voorhees, Nico and Luca Arnold, Mateja and Chloe Pesek, Riley, Madison and Taylor Pesek, and  Hayden and Hattie Solma; his first great-great-granddaughter due in September; his brother, Ward (Carol) Voorhees; his sister-in-law, Margaret Voorhees; his special friend, Marlys Bartz; and his many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends .

He was preceded in death by parents, Henry and Ethel Voorhees; his wife, Joan in 2014; his son-in-law, Tom Hoffman in 2017; his grandson, Matthew Kettner, his siblings Bill (Irene) Voorhees, Richard (Harriet) Voorhees, Donald (Eunice) Voorhees, Max Voorhees, Norman (Catherine) Voorhees, Pauline Voorhees, Leonard Voorhees, and Jerry (Janet) Voorhees; and his sister-in-law, Donna (Elwood) Anderson.  Blessed be the memory of Delmar “Del” Voorhees.