Delmar Marquardt

DELMAR E. MARQUARDT April 29, 1928 - January 18, 2015 Delmar E. Marquardt, age 86, peacefully went to heaven on Sunday morning, January 18, 2015 while at the Mission Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in Mission, Texas with his wife, Dorothy at his side holding his hand. Delmar was born to Max and Freda (Stage) Marquardt on April 29, 1928 on the family farm near Seaforth, MN. He attended the Redwood County District #80 Country School near his home. As a young man, Delmar grew up learning the value of hard work on his parent's farm. As a young man his good work ethic and business acumen led him into agribusiness where he established himself as a leader in the grain elevator and commodities business from 1953 to 1978. After selling his business he worked for Midwest Commodities for two years and spent three years at Dittrich Specialties a refurbishing plant for the 3-M Company. It was during this time that he also acquired his real estate license. On July 14, 1978, Delmar was united in marriage to Dorothy Schmidt. He moved to Park Rapids in 1983 and was very active in the real estate business from 1983 until 2011. Delmar spent all of his real estate career with the Coldwell Banker- Clack and Dennis Real Estate Company in Park Rapids. He was a member of the Board of Realtors for over 20 years and was a graduate of the Realtors Institute. He was proud to have been a multiple year member of the Coldwell Banker Elite Circle. Delmar and his wife had a great love for the outdoors which is one of the main reasons they moved to Park Rapids. Delmar was a great sportsman and loved to hunt and fish. For many years he enjoyed hunting pheasants in South Dakota, deer and antelope in Montana and Ducks and Geese in North Dakota. Anyone who hunted with him would comment at what a great shot he was and the good dogs that he had trained. He and Dorothy looked forward to their fishing trips to Minaki, Canada multiple times each summer. He was a man of Faith and enjoyed worshipping St. Johns Lutheran Church in Park Rapids. He was also a lifetime member of the MN Deer Hunters Assoc. and Ducks Unlimited. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife for these past 36 years, Dorothy of Park Rapids; his daughter, Cynthia (Dean Olson) Becken; his two grandsons: Scott and Michael Becken; his four step-children: Greg (Kathy) Mielke of New Ulm, MN, Brenda (Kenny) Drummer of New Ulm, Brian (Gwen) Mielke of Courtland, MN and Cary (Dan) Walser of New Ulm; nine step grandchildren and 6 step great grandchildren; and his sister, Phyllis Dresow of Wabasso, MN. Delmar was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Sherlyn who died in 1996; a grandson, Daniel Becken and a sister, Maxine Schultz. Funeral services are set for 11 AM Thursday, January 29, 2015 at St Johns Lutheran Church in Park Rapids with the Rev. James Neubauer officiating. Sarah Kaufenberg will be the organist. Congregational hymns will be: "How Great Thou Art", "Amazing Grace" and "Just As I Am". The active casket bearers will be his grandsons: Michael Becken, Scott Becken, Michael Mielke, Tony Mielke, Daniel Mielke, Darren Mielke and Matthew Drummer. The honorary casket bearers will be: granddaughters; Rachel Hoffmann, Nicole Mielke, Emily Mielke and Ellidi Mielke; and dear friends: Milan Stage, Gary Current, Bob Dittrich and Stan Turbes. Interment will be made in the Greenwood Cemetery of Park Rapids, MN. Visitation will be held from 5-8 PM , Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home and 1 hour prior to the service at the Church. To view the video tribute or to leave on line condolences please visit www.jonespearson.com. To leave on line condolences or to view the video tribute please visit www.jonespearson.com.