DELMAR “Del” KRIEGHBAUM

Delmar “Del” Krieghbaum, age 99, of Sugar Grove, IL, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Thursday, August 17, 2023.

He was born May 6, 1924, on the family farm in Kaneville, to loving parents, Fred and Gertrude Krieghbaum.

Del grew up in Kaneville on Lasher Rd. and attended local schools. He made an impact on the hardwood as a member of the basketball team and graduated from Kaneville High School with the class of 1942.

Two years later, Ruth Nelson’s brother introduced her to Delmar Krieghbaum as they stood beneath a streetlight at Main St. & Maple St. in Sugar Grove. When they parted company that evening Ruth told her friend, Fayola Musser that she would one day marry Delmar.  He later admitted that she had captured his heart with her first “hello”.  They were united in marriage on June 3, 1945, at the Sugar Grove United Methodist Church and set up housekeeping in an apartment just across the street from the street corner where they first met.

Del drove trucks for a number of companies, including dairy, stockyard, sand and gravel as well as a big yellow school bus for Kaneland School District 302 during his retirement years. Despite all the jobs throughout his life, “Milkman” was the mantle by which everyone knew him most. He not only delivered to the house, but to the refrigerator and sometimes even stayed for breakfast! He was not only a member of the community but also an “adopted” member of many families. Outside of his regular job, Del dedicated decades of his blood, sweat and tears to his community as a founding member and past chief of the Sugar Grove Volunteer Fire Department. . He was also the first in the area to include women on the fire department, and not on a separate brigade. A fire fighter was a fire fighter, and all stand on the line between their community and the powerful destructive rage of fire. He celebrated 50 years as a fireman, 34 of them as chief before he washed his last truck and dried his last hose. No one saw as much change to the department or his community than Del. Used to read meters for the water department and member of the Sugar Grove Village Board.

Del was a long-time member of the Sugar Grove Lions Club, Young Adults Club, Kane County Fire Chiefs Association, as well as the Kane County Firemen’s Association, Auxiliary member of the Sugar Grove American Legion, Post 1271.

Del loved his trips to both Vegas and any local casino to try his luck at video poker. For many years, he played on two bowling leagues and coached an American Legion baseball team. He helped to establish a place to play, creating a diamond that has since been lost to time, but was home to exciting plays every week.  His laugh was as singular as it was infectious. Del used it to meet a friend on every street and corner, building a family of friends a mile long. He had a quick wit and sometimes “salty language” that would put Morton to shame. Del was an institution that has stood the test of time and left a legacy that will never be forgotten.

He is survived by 5 children:  Ken (Mary) Krieghbaum, Constance Bieritz, Karen (David) Proctor, Caroline (Verne) Bjornson, and Karla (Ken) Kassinger;  13 grandchildren:  Kendra (John) Hiltenbrand, Delmar Krieghbaum, Douglas (Lisa) Krieghbaum, Keith (Shauna) Gardner, Robert (Samantha) Bieritz, Crystal Bieritz , Brett Proctor, Bridget (Michael) Toma, Jared (Kari) Proctor and Melanie (Derek) Scawinski, Michelle (IV Robinson) Bjornson, Stacy Goggin and Alycia (Justin Koeller) Donais; 29 great-grandchildren:  Kenneth, Garrett, Catherine, and Mitchell Hiltenbrand; Macallan and Evan Krieghbaum; Tanner, Addisyn, Teaghan and Drew Gardner; Quinn, Reese, Blake and Callen Bieritz; Johanna and Cohen Pavlak; Tyler and Jacob Proctor; Nathan and Zachary Toma; Cameron, Avery, Elliana and Gavin Scawinski; Tildon and Claire Robinson; Mikayla and Marissa Goggin and Dorian Koeller; sister and brother-in-law, Wayne and Grace Olson; many nieces, nephews, countless cousins and a countryside of friends.

He is reunited with his parents, Fred and Gertrude Krieghbaum; wife Ruth, daughter in infancy, Carol Ann; three sisters: Berdena (Roy) Sorensen, Laverna (Robert) Grommes and Betty (Ken) Radovich; a brother and sister in infancy, Vivian and Emmett Krieghbaum.

Visitation will be from 3-8p.m., Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119. A funeral to celebrate his life will begin at 11 a.m., Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at the Sugar Grove United Methodist Church, 176 S. Main St., Sugar Grove, IL 60554. Interment will follow at Sugar Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Del’s name. Checks may be made to the “Delmar F. Krieghbaum Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Memories and tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.

Visitation will be from 3-8p.m., Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119. A funeral to celebrate his life will begin at 11 a.m., Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at the Sugar Grove United Methodist Church, 176 S. Main St., Sugar Grove, IL 60554. Interment will follow at Sugar Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Del’s name. Checks may be made to the “Delmar F. Krieghbaum Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Memories and tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.