Charlie Delphus Koel

C. Delphus "Del" Koel, age 91, of Madison, SD, died Friday, September 29, 2017, at the Madison Regional Health System in Madison.

Memorial services will be 2:00 pm, Thursday, October 5, 2017, at the First Presbyterian Church in Madison with Rev. Mark Werner officiating.  Visitation begins noon Wednesday, with the family present from 5-7 pm at Ellsworth Funeral Home.

Charlie Delphus Koel was born May 17, 1926, in Perkins, IA to Herbert and Hattie (Kuhl) Koel. He was raised on the family farm north of Hull, IA, and later on the farm near Maurice, IA. He married Lorna Arlene Kots on August 25, 1950, at the Little Brown Church at Nashua, IA. Following their marriage, Del worked as a farm hand in Iowa and later they had their own farm near Maurice. In 1955, they moved to Winfred, SD and farmed there until 1998. Del and Lorna rented out the farm land and later sold it. They continued to live there until 2008 when they moved into Madison.

Del was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and Prairie Village where he loved giving school tours and operating the steam merry-go-round.

Del was preceded in death by his mother and father; step-mother Jennie Koel; an infant brother; one brother Donald Koel; and one sister-in-law Marjorie Koel.

Survivors include his wife Lorna of Madison; three children, Harvey Koel (Michele Scotting) of Winfred, Leann (Roger) Campbell of Lafayette, GA, and Renae (Bill) Keenan of Juniata, NE; seven grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; two sisters, Jacoba (Al) Rens of Hull, IA, and Anna (Cornie) Jansen of Rock Valley, IA; one brother Derrick (Sally) Koel of Sioux Center, IA.

 Service Information