Delbert Straub passed away peacefully with his sisters at his side at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan, KS, June 12, 2023. He was born to Carl and Gertrude (Gros) Straub July 11, 1936, at their home on the farm west of Flush, Kansas.
After graduating high school at Flush Delbert enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He was sent to Keesler Air Force Base at Biloxi, Mississippi to be trained as a radio intercept operator. He served his country for over 23 years, rising to the rank of Master Sergeant. The majority of his tenure was overseas. He was assigned to tours in Japan, Korea, England, Scotland, and Germany.
While stationed in Scotland he met the love of his life in Iris Swanston. He and Iris were married November 15, 1958 and enjoyed sixty years together. Four children were born to this union: Yvonne, David, Jeanette and Karen.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1977, Delbert and Iris moved their family to rural Wamego, where he enjoyed country life with horses, goats, chickens and gardening. Delbert worked part time selling real estate for Century 21 for a few years before devoting himself to his full-time job as electrician for Kansas State University, where he worked for 21 years before retiring.
Delbert also donated his time and skills to his church and community. He did extensive electrical work for St. Joseph Parish at Flush, doing the electrical work when the parish hall was renovated, as well as several projects at the church building itself. He took his opportunity to serve as director of religious education seriously, earnestly serving in that capacity several years until illness made it impossible to continue. He volunteered at Community Health Center in Wamego. He took pride in placing flags on veteran’s graves in the Flush cemetery.
Delbert was a faithful, active member of the Knights of Columbus, serving his local chapter at Flush holding offices, including Grand Knight. He also served on the state level, serving as State Warden in 2003-2004.
Delbert had a dry sense of humor and a heart warming smile. He was a loving, tender hearted, compassionate man who was always concerned in the well being of his wife, his children, grandchildren and extended family. In spite of suffering with multiple myeloma and kidney dialysis for over five years Delbert maintained a positive attitude with faith in God and hope that tomorrow would be better.
Family members preceding Delbert in death are his parents, his wife, his brother Dennis, and brothers-in-law Marvin Geisler and Carrol Dekat. His survivors are his children: Yvonne (John) Bish; David (Heidi); Jeanette (Kevin) Siebert; and Karen Guzman. Surviving grandchildren are Steven Bish; Eric, Evan, Nick and Catherine Siebert; Olivia and Vanessa Guzman; sisters Carleen Dekat; Rita Glotzbach and brother-in-law Merle; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends who mourn his loss.
Delbert was a man of integrity. The world is a better place for his having been here. As so many have told the family: “Delbert was a good man.”
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, June 19th at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church of Flush. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Catholic cemetery.
A visitation will be held Sunday, June 18th at Campanella & Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., with a Rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested for the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and may be left in the care of Campanella and Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego, P.O. Box 48, 66547.