Delbert John "Del" Langreck

DELBERT J. "DEL" LANGRECK, age 98, of Loyal, WI, passed away on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at Colonial Health Services in Colby, WI. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Loyal. Rev. Emmanuel Famiyeh will officiate, and burial will follow in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Neillsville, WI. Pallbearers will be: Duane Brey, Duane Zinthefer, Neil Steirer, Kris Smith, Brianna Zaiss, Kyle Langreck, and Nick Langreck. A rosary service will be held at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday at the church, followed by a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

Delbert John Langreck was born on December 30, 1926, in Neillsville, WI, the son of Jacob and Veronica E. (Ziglinski) Langreck. He was raised on the family farm and received his education at St. Mary's Catholic School in Neillsville. As a young man, Delbert continued to farm and worked at B&F Machine Shop, O&N Lumber, at American Store Condensery, and had a milk route for 6 years. He was united in marriage to Leona Wasserburger on November 7, 1951, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Neillsville. Delbert worked for Rollohome Corporation for 6 years before becoming employed with the Clark County Highway Department in 1960. Delbert enjoyed carpentry work, which he did for many years while working for Clark County. After his wife's passing on July 2, 1983, he continued to live in Neillsville and work for the highway department until retiring in 1992. Delbert married LaVada M. Luchterhand on September 25, 1992, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Loyal. They spent 27 years wintering in Mesa, AZ, and he resided in Loyal until his death.

Delbert loved to dance, and he shared that joy with everyone around him. Whether it was a graceful waltz, a lively polka, or a spirited square dance, he was always the first to take to the floor and the last to leave it. During the warm seasons of Wisconsin, Delbert found joy in spending time outdoors camping with friends, playing a round of golf, casting a line from his fishing boat, and exploring the backroads on his moped, always embracing life's simple pleasures. As the temperatures dropped, Delbert and LaVada happily traded snow boots for sandals, spending their winters in Mesa, AZ, soaking up the sunshine and sharing plenty of laughs with their many friends.

Delbert will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him for his quick wit, warm smile, and inventive "quick fixes" that reflected both his ingenuity and generosity of spirit. Always ready with a helping hand, he enriched the lives of family, friends, and neighbors alike.

Delbert is survived by his wife, LaVada, of Loyal; three children: Bernard (Margaret) Langreck of Mercer, WI, Becky (Neil) Steirer of Hartland, WI, Betty Jo (Kris) Smith of Neillsville, WI; one daughter-in-law, Judy Langreck, of Cedarburg, WI; two stepdaughters: Paula (Duane) Brey of Loyal, WI, and Renee Hinrichsen of Abbotsford, WI; four grandchildren; twelve step-grandchildren; twenty step-great-grandchildren; one stepdaughter-in-law, Elma Luchterhand, of Marshfield, WI; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Leona; one son, Bruce Langreck; two sisters: Joyce Zinthefer and Joan Fitzmaurice; and one step-son, Gary Luchterhand.