Mr. Delbert E. Daschner

DELBERT E. DASCHNER TALLADEGA - Services were set for Delbert E. Daschner, 79, who was called by his Creator on Nov. 26, 2008, at his home in Talladega. Church services were held at Hepzibah Baptist Church on Nov. 30, at 3 p.m. Interment followed at Hepzibah Cemetery. Mr. Daschner was born at his grandfather Torbet's farm home in Iroquois County, Ill. On April 29, 1929. His parents, Cloyd and Frances Daschner farmed near Watseka, Ill.; Kentland, Ind.; then to a farm near East Lynn, Ill. Where "Del" attended and graduated as Salutatorian from East Lynn High School. During the Korean War, he joined the Army and served as administrative specialist on the Island of Eta Jema, in the South Pacific. Del married Roberta Jane Atkins, daughter of Ray (deceased) and Alta Atkins of Elkville, Ill. on Feb. 28, 1954 at the United Methodist Church in East Lynn. The Daschners were blessed with six children; Arla (Mrs. Howard Albers, Fairfax, Va.), Dennis (Mazon, Ill.), Barbara (Mrs. Jeremy Simpson, Talladega, Ala.), Laurie (Mrs. Curt Simmons, Portage, Mich.), Kenneth (Mrs. Jane Daschner, Folsom, Ala.), and Lisa (Mrs. Fred DeLeon, Birmingham, Ala.). He leaves grandchildren: Christine Albers, Faith Albers, Mike Daschner, Mrs. Heather Brian, Megan Daschner, Erick Daschner, Andy Simmons, Frederick DeLeon, Genevieve DeLeon; and one great-grandson, Sean Daschner. Mr. Daschner was a member of the Masonic Lodge and served as Worshipful Master of Clifton Lodge No. 688 in 1961. He was commissioned as Grand Lecturer in May 1963. He attained the 32nd degree at the Consistory in Danville, Ill. Mr. Daschner farmed for many years in Northern Illinois. During the winter month, he built custom homes and drove a semi gasoline truck for the Meier Oil Company in Ashkum, Ill. When the farm he rented sold, he became the manager of Production Credit Association in Ottawa, Ill.; in the '60s, he held the position of construction manager at Curt Weaver Harvestore Company in Sycamore, Ill. He returned to the PCA as vice president in Morris, Ill. And was called in 1976 to New Orleans, La. as a credit examiner for the Federal Intermediate Credit Bank covering the states of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. Later he became vice president of the Northwest PCA in Arcadia, La. Before Daschner's retirement in 2001, he was employed by the FICB of St. Louis, Mo., working in Texarkana, and Russellville, Ark. For 11 years, the Daschners traveled via RV to the Rio Grande Valley to be winter Texans. While living at Park Place Estates in Harlingen, Tex., Del became a wood carver and the joy of his carving has been shown in many art shows in Texas and Alabama where he has won many blue ribbons. Religion has always played a major part of his life. Del attended the Methodist church as a child and accepted the Lord Jesus as his Savior. For many years, he was a Sunday school teacher and church officer. While in Arcadia, La., he became a lay speaker preaching in area churches when needed. He joined the mission team to the Island of Carriacou where volunteers built the foundation for a new church. He and his wife served as Gideons in Alexander City, Ala. He joined volunteers in the state of Missouri following the devastating floods. Del has also been a faithful volunteer at Camp ASCCA (Alabama's Special Camp for Children and Adults) in Jackson's Gap, Ala. After moving to Alabama, the Daschners joined the Old Rocky Mountain Baptist Church and was baptized in Lake Martin. Moving to Talladega, the Daschners joined Hepzibah Baptist Church where he has served as president of Mack's Sunday school class and was appointed deacon in 2008. He was also a member of the church choir. Daschner's final service will be one of praise to the Lord and celebration of his life with music and song. Mr. Daschner was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Barbara Jeanne, and two brothers, Dwayne and William. Memorials may be made to Hepzibah's Men's Mission Group, or UAB's TKC Comprehensive Cancer Center at Acton Road, Birmingham, Ala. Usrey Funeral Home, Pell City directed.