Delores E. Graichen

Age 86, passed away peacefully at Bethany Home early Wednesday morning, March 21, 2012, after a brief illness. Delores was born December 18, 1925, the daughter of the late Leonhard and Annabelle (nee Jahnke) Gehrke on a farm in the Town of Little Wolf, Manawa, Wisconsin. She was baptized January 17, 1926, and confirmed on April 10, 1938, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Manawa. She attended Little Wolf High School, graduating with the class of 1943. After graduation, she moved to Chicago, IL., working at several jobs briefly, before being employed by Carnegie Illinois Steel Company. Returning to Wisconsin in 1948, she began working at Aid Association for Lutherans, (now Thrivent) Appleton. On February 28, 1953, she married Verlyle Graichen in St. Paul Lutheran Church, Manawa. They began their married life in Milwaukee, where she was employed for American National Insurance company, then moving to Racine in 1953, where she worked for Hamilton Beach Manufacturing Company. In October of 1959, she and her husband moved to Garden Grove, California, where she was employed at Hughes Aircraft Employees Federal Credit Union, retiring in December, 1980, with 20 years of service. After taking some time off, she began working at Dollar Check Company, a distributor of swimming pool supplies. Highlights of those years were the many trips she made to various cities for Trade Shows, among them Dallas & Houston, Texas, and New Orleans, Louisiana, and the pleasant times she had shopping in those cities. Delores was proud of her life membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, holding various offices, including President. These ladies made many trips to the VA hospital in Long Beach, on Memorial Day, and on other occasions, to visit the retired, injured and disabled servicemen. She was also a member of the Altar Guild and Lutheran Womens Missionary League of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Anaheim, CA, until moving back to Wisconsin in July, 2003. As an active member of St. Mark's, she participated in their "Tender Loving Care" bible study group, and acted as a co-leader for the confirmation classes. Upon moving back to Manawa, she resided in the Murphy Apartments, and then Wolf River Senior Village on Depot Street, until taken ill. She had rejoined St. Paul Lutheran Church and was a member of their Ladies Aid Society. Survivors include two brothers, Herbert Gehrke, Hortonville, and Leonhard Jr. (wife Joyce) Gehrke of Janesville, one sister, Henrietta (husband Conrad) Baumer, Manawa, a sister-in-law, Merva Graichen, New London, a special niece, Renee Graichen, New London, and a large "family" of nieces and nephews. She was always interested in their many activities. She is further survived by other relatives and friends. Preceding her in death were her husband, her mother & father, a sister, Anita Buck, Waupaca, her mother & father in law, and other brothers & sister in law. The Christian funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 24, 2012, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Manawa, with Pastor Vilas Mazemke, officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Interment will be in Floral Hill Cemetery, New London, Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Paul Lutheran Vision 2000 building fund or St. Paul School, Computers for Crusaders. The family would like to thank Dr. Paul Sletten for taking Delores as a new patient, and the staff at Bethany Home for their compassionate care during her difficult time.