Billie Dean "Bill" Delka

Billie Dean “Bill” Delka was born on May 10, 1945 at Red Cloud, Nebraska.  He passed away on April 4, 2018 at his home in Guide Rock, Nebraska after a long fight with chronic leukemia.

Bill was the sixth of eleven children born to Harold and Olive (Smith) Delka and spent his childhood years in the Bostwick area.  Bill attended Guide Rock High School before being drafted into the United States Army where he was a heavy equipment operator.

While working construction, Bill met Arlene Schmidtberger, who was the sixth of thirteen children.  They married on June 21, 1969 at the Cathedral of the Plains Catholic Church in Victoria, KS and would have celebrated 49 years of marriage this summer.  Bill was extremely proud of his family and they were the most important part of his life. Bill and Arlene were blessed with their children: Julie, Les, Chris, Amy, and Jill.

Bill worked construction in Kansas and Texas before moving back to Nebraska where he worked as a mechanic.  Bill & Arlene moved to Guide Rock in 1975 and opened Delka’s Sales & Service.  The shop remained a central gathering space on main street until it closed in 1995 when Bill went to work for Road Builders in Grand Island. In his leisure time he loved to garden.

Bill was an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous for 27 years.  Through the AA community he actively lived the twelve steps and became a mentor to others. His quick wit and sense of humor led to contagious laughter in any setting.  Even with surgeries and chemotherapy, Bill was known to brighten people’s days with his clever comments and genuine conversations.  Regardless of sickness or health, Bill loved phone calls and visits with family and friends.

Survivors include his wife Arlene; children, Julie (Kory) Delkamiller of Omaha, Nebraska and children Maia, Lydia, and Naomi; Les (Jennifer) Delka of Lincoln, Nebraska and children Emily and Andrew; Chris (Gaye) Delka of Pierce, Nebraska and children, Dylan, Dalton, and Lauren; Amy (Brian) Howard of Papillion, Nebraska and children Joey, Lucy, Hunter and Austin; Jill (Kevin) Edgren of Grand Island, Nebraska and children Ikaiah, Hayden, and Gabriella.  Also surviving are his siblings Neil (Audyne), Don (Alice), Ted (Myrtie), Frank (Connie), Ray (Lee),  Dale (Diane), Betty (Dale) Ehlers, Elaine, Joe (Joann), and Doris Epke; nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

The Mass of Christian Burial was Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Red Cloud, Nebraska with Rev. Paul Frank and Rev. David Korth officiating.  Interment with military honors was at the Guide Rock Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Red Cloud Sacred Heart Catholic Church or the Guide Rock American Legion.

Williams Funeral Home
241 West 4th Avenue
Red Cloud, Nebraska  68970

402-746-2500
​williamsfuneralhomes@yahoo.com

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