Delbert Norman De Young

Delbert Norman De Young, age 81 of Friesland, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, January 30, 2011.

Delbert was born on March 23, 1929 to Webe and Jennie (Cupery) De Young in Friesland, WI. He completed Friesland State Graded School in 1942 and graduated from Randolph High School with the Class of 1946. After high school he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served two years. Following his service, he attended Hope College in Holland, MI for three years. On September 14, 1951, he was united in marriage to Doris Adams. He finished his education by attending the University of Wisconsin Engineering School for four years, graduating in 1955 with a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering.

Delbert was employed at Du Pont Company in Wilmington, DE as Technical Service and Sales Engineer in the Teflon Plastics Group for six years, after which he returned to Friesland, WI, founding Friesland Plastics Co. to manufacture and sell thread sealant and packings made from Teflon plastic material. In 1961 he founded Cupery & De Young Storage Corp. in Friesland for the storage of canned foodstuffs and empty tin cans for the food canning industry. In 1973 he founded Adams Transit Inc. for the transportation needs of the food canning industry. At the same time he began De Young Rentals, Inc. to establish storage facilities in other areas of WI, and for the leasing of transportation vehicles and equipment. He was a longtime member of the Wisconsin Motor Carrier Association (WMCA), served as chairman from 1997 – 1999, and was honored for his dedication and support of WMCA by being presented with the Frank W Babbitt Award in 1995. He was a lifelong member of First Reformed Church of Friesland and served as an Elder, Deacon, and Sunday School teacher. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 401 of Cambria, WI.

Delbert was an avid collector of antique autos and trucks starting his personal collection in 1980 which continues to grow today. He was a dedicated member of many national and local antique truck and auto clubs, and enjoyed sharing his collection with others, along with attending various shows around the country. He was truly blessed in his second marriage to Betty J. Lloyd (Morgan), a Randolph High School classmate on June 27, 1998.

Delbert is survived by his wife Betty; his son Peter A. De Young, Friesland; his daughter Mary J. De Young, Wauwatosa, WI; his son James W. (Holly) De Young, Beaver Dam; two granddaughters, Tessa and Rebecca De Young; two stepsons, Douglas (Deidre) Lloyd and Donald (Sally) Lloyd; stepdaughter, Lisbeth (David) Deblitz; four step-grandchildren, Douglas (Kiley) Lloyd, Samuel Lloyd, David (Alexia) Deblitz, and Emily Deblitz; and a step-great-granddaughter, Evelyn. He is further survived by his sister Marlene (James) Smedema, Gilbert, AZ; two sisters-in-law, Ruth De Young Cupery, Randolph; Kay Adams, Colorado Springs, CO; and step-sister-in-law, Nancy Noordhof, Beaver Dam; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his first wife Doris on March 14, 1997; his parents; an older brother Eugene De Young; a brother-in-law James D. Adams, and step brother-in-law Fred H. Noordhof.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 3, 2011 at Friesland Reformed Church, 107 E. Winnebago St. Friesland, with Rev. Rob Ford officiating. Burial will follow in the Friesland Cemetery.

Delbert’s family will receive relatives and friends on Wed, Feb. 2, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Randolph Community Funeral Home, 208 S. High Street, Randolph; and on Thursday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of service.

A memorial fund has been established for the Friesland Reformed Church; Hillside Hospice of Beaver Dam and Hope College in Holland, MI.