Delford Del Pope

Delford 'Del' Pope
DELFORD PERRY "DEL" POPE, age 82 of Waterville, died on Sunday, January 10, 2016 at Lakeshore Inn in Waseca.
Born in Waterville Township on May 23, 1933, Del was the son of Perry and Inez (Schwichtenberg) Pope. He graduated from high school in Waterville and continued his education at Minnesota State University – Mankato for one quarter before enlisting in the United States Navy. During his time in the service, Del served aboard the USS Everett F. Larson in the Mediterranean Sea. Upon his honorable discharge in 1955, Del returned to Minnesota to complete his education degree. He began his teaching and coaching career in Belle Plaine. He then went on to teach geography, science and coach football, baseball, and basketball in Waterville for nearly twenty years. It was in 1955, however, while still enlisted in the service, that Del built his first cabin on the land that was to become Kamp Dels. In 1957 he married Phyllis Morsching at St. Peter "Bell" Lutheran Church in Le Sueur County, and together they have raised their family and built their family business. Del loved spending time with his family and friends, building his business, hunting and fishing, and coaching and playing sports. He also enjoyed watching his grandchildren play sports.
Del is survived by his wife, Phyllis of Waterville; children, Toya (Tim) Schmidtke of Waterville, Chia (Randy) Roemhildt of Elysian, Kara (Mike) Kinniry of Waterville, Nyl (Pat) Pope of Waterville, Kyna (Doug) Harmon of Waterville, Rhea (Chad) Atherton of Waterville, and Tobin (Erin) Pope of Waterville; twenty five grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren with one more on the way; two sisters, Marilyn Ringheim of Mankato, and Jeneane (Howard) Snyder of Owatonna; and two sisters-in-law, Ruth Dahl of Waterville, and Eleanor Youngerberg of Mankato. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be held from 4-8PM on Thursday, January 14, 2016 at Dennis Funeral & Cremation Services in Waterville, and will continue for one hour before the service at the church on Friday. Funeral services will be held at 10:30AM on Friday, January 15, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waterville, with Rev. David Mumme officiating. Interment will follow at Sakatah Cemetery in Waterville.