Delbert Eugene Hobbs, 89, of Austin, died Friday, Feb. 26, 2010 at Our House Memory Care, one day short of 90 years old.
    Delbert was born Feb. 27, 1920 in Oakland, Minn. to Oliver and Ethel Hobbs. He attended Blooming Prairie School and Austin Public School. Del lived in Oakland, Blooming Prairie, Austin and California. 
    He met his wife, Mary Kirtz, at the Rainbow Dance Hall and they were married by Father Sainsbury in 1940.
    Del was the first man drafted in Mower County in March of 1944. He served in the Infantry and saw action in the European Theatre. On Feb. 15, 1945, he was wounded and received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal and three battle stars.
    Del was a skilled carpenter and enjoyed woodworking. He loved to work in his yard, bowl and play golf. One of his other interests was radio control model airplanes. You build them in the winter and crash them in the summer. He belonged to a local club called the Austin RC Society.     
    Del was one of the discussion leaders at the coffee counter at Kenny’s Oak Grill where his daughter, Joanne and grandkids, Kim and Tony and their kids, Joey and Steph worked. 
    He loved to travel and spend time with his daughter, Shirley and Bob and her seven children in Waukon, Iowa.
    Del started work at the Austin Hormel Plant on April 24, 1942. After the war he returned and worked in the Cut for 33 years, serving as Department Chairman and Grievance Man for 15 years. He was Cold Side Division Chairman and on the Executive Board for four years. Del retired after 39 and a half years.
    He was a loving husband and caregiver to his wife in her later years until her passing in 2002.
    Survivors include two daughters, Shirley (Bob) Heimer, Waukon, Iowa, Joanne (Kenny) Knutson, Austin; eight grandchildren, Kim Mohrfeld, Tony Knutson, Cheryl Kiesau, Scott Heimer, Mary Anderson, Susan Burroughs, Cathy Gelo, Lynette Corkery; 29 great-grandchildren; 27 great-great-grandchildren.
    He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, on Aug. 3, 2002; four brothers; two sisters; a grandson, Marty Heimer.
    A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at Queen of Angels Catholic Church with Father Dale Tupper officiating. There will be a 6:30 p.m. wake service on Monday at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. and also one hour before the service at the church on Tuesday. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post #91 and VFW Post #1216.
    The casket bearers will be Steve Kiesau, Scott Heimer, James Gelo, Dean Burroughs, Joel Anderson, Daniel Heimer, Tony Knutson and Joe Mohrfeld.
Mayer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.