James J. Delaney, born Feb. 25, 1921, to Stewart and Frances (Cummings) Delaney in Delavan found his peace with God on Aug. 6, 2016.
Jim had many years of happy dancing and celebrating with his wife, Catherine Leonard Delaney, until her death in December 1967. They had four children, Joanne (Rick) Matheson, of Deerfield, Kay Narish Delaney, of St. Charles, Ill., Jack (Patty) Delaney, of Daytona, Fla., and Jim Delaney, of Delavan. Jim then married Virginia Tischendorf of Allens Grove. They also had many happy years together until her death in November 2005. Along with this union came four children, David (Ida) Walsh, of Clinton, Terry (Sally) Walsh, of Delavan, Susan (Fred) Finster, of Elkhorn, and Julie (Mike) Lazzeroni, of Whitewater. Jim has 15 grandchildren, Jim, Jeff, John (Maria), Angie, Jennie (Steve), Heather, Shannon (Mark), Dustin, DJ (Rachel) Kelley, John, Ashley (Travis), Michael, Nicholas, and Jacob. He also has 16 great grandchildren, Matthew, Megan, Zion, Keegen, Peyton, Kendall, Addison, Dillon, Jack, Madalyn, Matthew, Luke, Andrew, Kate, Declan and Penelope.
Jim is preceded in death by both of his wives, Catherine and Virginia; his parents; his sisters, Virginia and Margaret Mary; and a grandson, Kory Walsh in November 2014. Jim had a long history in agriculture. He was first employed as a farmer and then by Otis Sherman, Palmer and Dunbar, Gleaner Harvestors and Badger Farm Store. After retirement, he worked part-time at Johnstown Center and Cecelia’s Golf Course. He made many lifelong friends, but so many have gone before him.
There wasn’t an Oliver tractor built that he could not repair and until just recently was receiving calls for help with repairing balers. Jim was a member of Toastmasters and Harvard Moose Club. He was also a member of Fairfield Grange beginning with his high school years. Jim performed with the Fairfield Grange Drill Team. Every year at fair time, he dug out his apron and fried hamburgers. He didn’t like the melted cheese on the grill so any cheeseburger order was met with a frown. Dancing was his favorite pastime. No telling how many shoes he wore out during his lifetime. The kids stopped counting how many cuts he had on his head and shin from running into machinery. Every morning you could find him at the Countryside Restaurant hugging the waitresses and solving world issues with his coffee crew.
Funeral service will be at 11 a.m Friday at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 714 E. Walworth Ave. in Delavan. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Monroe Funeral Home, 604 E. Walworth Ave., and an hour prior to the service Friday at the church.
Burial will take place at St. Andrew Cemetery in Delavan. Memorials can be directed to Lakeland Health Care Center.
We would like to mention his good friends at Countryside Café. Thank you to the staff at Whispering Willows in Elkhorn and Lakeland Health Care for the excellent care given to Jim. “We will miss our happy Irish Dad forever.”
