Delma Howk

Delma Howk, 104 passed away on April 15th at Heritage of Red Cloud with her daughter Kayleen and her granddaughter Taunya by her side.

Delma was born to Ada Duckworth Goble and Leroy Goble on September 10, 1917 in a farmhouse southwest of Red Cloud.  Delma’s parents divorced when she was very young.  Her mother later married Don Wilson, who Delma considered her father.

Delma graduated from Red Cloud High School in 1935. Later that year she married Harry Howk on November 7th.  Their marriage was blessed with two daughters, Marlys and Kayleen.

Delma joined the Red Cloud United Methodist Church in March of 1937. She was an active member of the church for as long as her health permitted. Delma loved a good garage sale and always looked forward to helping with the United Methodist Women’s Bazar. She volunteered at the Red Cloud Senior Center and especially enjoyed decorating for the monthly birthday dinners at the center. She also served as a pink lady at the Webster County Hospital for a number of years.

Delma was widowed at age 59.  She enjoyed and appreciated a strong group of supportive women and friends in the community. Delma enjoyed Red Cloud’s weekday ritual of gathering for coffee with community friends at the local café.

Delma delighted in her family. She was an eternal caretaker and immersed herself in caring for everyone from her parents to her great-grandchildren. She enjoyed supporting her grandchildren and great grandchildren in their many activities. Delma was all the magical things we read about in poems and stories about grandmas.  She loved hosting holidays and stretching out her dining room table for everyone to gather around. Grandma’s house was warm hugs, cups of hot chocolate overflowing with marshmallows, never ending plates of cookies, late night talks at the kitchen table, beds always ready with your favorite blanket and pillows, all the things that wrap you in love and beckon you back. Delma was a loving daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She will be missed beyond measure.

Delma was preceded in death by her husband Harry, her parents Ada and Don, and her brother Ivan Wilson. 

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters Kayleen (Charles) Meyers of Red Cloud and Marlys (Pete) Reyes of Lincoln. Five grand-children: Alan (Maggie) Reyes of Omaha; Craig (Dawn) Meyers of Roseland, Nebraska; Taunya (Neil) Tamppari, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Kevin (Rachell) Meyers, Grand Island and Anthony (Barbara) Meyers of Lincoln, Nebraska.  Nine great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. 

Funeral services were Thursday, 10:30 am, April 21, 2022, at the First United Methodist Church in Red Cloud with Rev. Dale Thiele officiating. Interment was at the Red Cloud Cemetery.

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

402-746-2500
williamsfuneralhomes@yahoo.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Delma Howk, please visit our floral store.