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Dana Lewis Delaware
1951 - 2023
Dana Lewis Delaware
1951 - 2023
Obituary
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Dana Delaware Obituary
Dana was born on March 16, 1951 in Gardiner, Maine. He graduated from our Lady of Lourdes High School and Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. He received his PhD from Purdue University in 1978. While completing research at the University of Arizona, he met his future wife, Sarah Phelps. They married on November 24, 1979 in Norman, Oklahoma. After post-doctoral work at the University of Illinois, he and Sarah moved to Kirksville in 1980 to teach at Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University). He taught in the Chemistry department for more than 30 years and served several years as chairman of Faculty Senate and was associate Science Division head during the remodeling of Magruder Hall. One of his favorite jobs was teaching chemistry to junior high students at the Joseph Baldwin Academy for more than 20 summers at Truman.
As a life-long member of the American Chemical Society, he served as treasurer of the ACS Mark Twain Section for many years. Throughout his time in Kirksville, he was involved with the American Red Cross Bloodmobile, was an active member in the Kirksville Noon Rotary Club and spent the last five years volunteering multiple times a week at the Pantry for Adair County (PAC). He was a faithful member of Mary Immaculate Catholic Church where he served as an usher, Eucharistic minister and a member of the Finance and Cemetery Boards.
Dana and Sarah moved to West Lafayette, Indiana in April of 2023. As members of the Westminster Village Community, both Sarah and Dana became active as volunteers, and Dana immediately joined the Rotary Club of Lafayette.
Dana loved his family, children, and grandchildren dearly. He looked forward to his summer trips to Maine and spent hours at the beach in Pemaquid Point. He enjoyed reading, gardening, solving crosswords, cooking, and traveling. He was a dedicated walker, making sure to get at least 10k steps a day. In cooler weather, he could be found "doing laps" at the local Menards store.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations are suggested to the Pantry for Adair County (PAC) or your local food pantry.
15 Entries
David Brooks
January 7, 2024
Doctor Delaware was the reason I became a college professor. A sweet, patient man. I am very shocked he has passed. If it were not for him my career would have been nil. What a kind, caring, giving, wonderful man. My previous wife, nee Jimi Hendricks, taught his children at the Early Childhood Center at NMSU.
Jeffrey Preisack
January 3, 2024
Dana was on the chemistry faculty when I arrived at Truman in 1983. He had high expectations for his students, the chemistry program and himself. He gave his students the very valuable gift of his time and encouragement.
Because the program was a bit short on faculty, Dana recruited some of the students ( including myself) to be undergraduate teaching assistants for organic lab. I truly felt honored to help the program and worked tirelessly to help the students but also to live up to Dana's confidence in me.
Thank you Dana for all your work so many years ago. Know I am a vastly better scientist because you believed in your students. Most importantly, know I am a better person because of your example of service to your community. I will miss you
Mark Mahoney
December 15, 2023
Marist was such a small community back in 1973 and everyone basically knew everyone on campus. I didn't hang out with Dana on a personal level, but I'm sure our paths crossed to and from class. It's always a sad day when one of our own passes, especially from the Class of '73. My deepest sympathy to Dana's family. My he live on in your memories of him. Mark Mahoney '73
Robert and Suzanne Martin
December 2, 2023
Dana served the Kirksville community. Among other things, he was involved in the physical work of setting up and taking down an American flag in front of our house and many other houses in Kirksville six times a year as part of a Rotary project. This was a considerable commitment and we thank him for his service and his friendship. He was never too busy to talk for a few minutes whether saw him walking in the neighborhood, putting up or taking down flags or at a church event. We are mourn his passing.
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Joe Benevento
December 2, 2023
I've known Dana and Sarah since 1983, when I first moved to Kirksville. Dana always was for me one of the most honest, genuinely caring and intelligent people I knew. Though he was only a few years older than me, he reminded me of my father, since his kindness and goodness remained behind a sometimes gruff exterior, but, like my dad, he wasn't fooling anybody who really knew him- he was a concerned and caring person all the way. My condolences to Sarah, the rest of his family and to all of us who will miss him greatly.
Maria Evans
December 1, 2023
Although I've known Dana since his arrival at Truman State University in 1980, it was in recent years volunteering at Pantry for Adair County where I got to know him best. He was one of those people who truly had "a servant's heart," and when you saw him in action at the Pantry, you knew that heart was as big as a washtub. Rest in Peace, friend.
Gretchen Cornell
December 1, 2023
Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.
Kristina Palumbo
December 1, 2023
I appreciated Dana many times at Mary Immaculate. His presence was always a welcome addition, waiting in the vestibule or participating in an event. I also will always be grateful for his inspiring interaction with each of our two kids who were in his JBA class. Many years after those classes, he amazed me by the way he remained interested in those long-ago students. Memory of him will be a blessing.
Lynn Carter
December 1, 2023
Dana and Sarah came up with the idea of the ongoing Drive Through Drop Off food collections for PAC when the pandemic kept us from the usual donations brought to Mass on the weekends. He (and Sarah!) would be out there pacing back and forth even in the extremes of weather, because that was their commitment to the food pantry. Mary Immaculate parish offers our deepest condolences.
Carol Berrey
December 1, 2023
I so appreciate the way Dana put faith into action through all his volunteer work and ministries at Mary Immaculate. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace .
Barbara Kramer
November 30, 2023
Dana was the very first person I met in Kirksville when I came to interview at Truman and I couldn´t have had a better beginning. He was one of the kindest people I have known and was a wonderful mentor and colleague. We will miss Dana so much.
Michael Seipel
November 30, 2023
Such a wise and patient man. While I knew him mainly through his leadership and service at Truman, I know those roles were only a small fraction of the many ways that he touched lives through his family, church, and community. He is greatly missed.
Bea Schulte
November 30, 2023
Dana was a very special person. I enjoyed working with him on the parish finance committee and truly appreciated his support. When I returned to college as a nontraditional student, Dana welcomed me as his work study student. I still remember his mood when I would try to organize him! I loved how he welcomed my two young sons that joined me at schools some days I didn´t have a sitter. My grandchildren loved have Dana and Sarah as their neighbors. Heaven sure gained a good one that will be missed greatly. Bea
Eric Patterson
November 30, 2023
Oh, so many memories. Dana was the chair of the chemistry department for essentially my entire time at Truman. He was a guide, mentor, friend. He was so calm and steady, even when things were rough. I will forever be grateful for his guidance and stewardship. Rest in peace, my friend.
Teak Nelson
November 30, 2023
A simple but constant memory - my office overlooked the football stadium, and most weekday mornings I could glance out from my walking desk and see him making his daily rounds. Always felt a bit like we were walking together - and I think of him each time I look out.
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