White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – Delmar Dale Kress died Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011 at West Village Care Center in Independence at the age of 89 years.  Delmar Dale Kress was born February 15, 1922 on a farm located ½ west of Walker, Iowa.  His parents were Carl Edward Kress and Clara Belle Weld Kress. At the age of 4 the family moved to a farm in Cono Township where he attended county school at Cono Center School.  Delmar graduated from the Quasqueton Consolidated High School in 1939.

He was enrolled at Eugene Vocational School in Eugene, Oregon when he was drafted into the Army in February 1943.  He completed Army training in Anti Aircraft and Field Artillery at Camp Haan, CA and Camp Hood, TX.  He served 14 months overseas in the Philippines and participated in the Liberation of Leyte and received the Philippines Liberation Ribbon and the Bronze Star.  He was honorably discharged at Fort Leavenworth, KS in 1947.

After serving his country he returned to his homeland and became an electrician in the Independence and Waterloo area until his retirement due to disability in 1980.

Delmar was a member of the Masonic Lodge #350 and served as a Past Master.  He recently received his 50 year membership award.  He was also a member of the Cedar Rock American Legion Post #434 in Quasqueton.

In May of 1963 he was married to Jeanne Kenyon Ownby.  They resided at their home in Winthrop and spent their winter months in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas until Jeanne became too ill to travel.

Mr. Kress is survived by 2 step sons, Michael Ownby of Winthrop, Iowa, and Kim (Miriam) Ownby of Markesan, Wisconsin, and 6 step grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, Delmar was preceded by his parents, 3 brothers, Carl, Leonard, Earnest; and 2 sisters Dorothy Brown and Marie Jones.

Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, October 27, 2011, at the Church of Christ United in Winthrop with Pastor Dean Schlitter officiating.  Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Winthrop.  Friends may call for visitation from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26th, at the White Funeral Home in Independence.  A Memorial in Delmar’s name will be set up at the Church of Christ United in Winthrop.