Deloris Evelyn Rodenburg VanSkiver, the daughter of Martin and Caroline (Nehrig) Rodenburg, was born March 10, 1930, on the family farm east of Davenport and died on Dec. 16, 2022, at the age of 92 years 9 months and 6 days at Blue Valley Nursing Home in Hebron, Nebraska. Deloris was baptized at St. Peters Lutheran Church on March 23, 1930, by Pastor L. E. Ernst. She attended St. Peters Parochial School through the 8th grade and was confirmed on July 9, 1944, by Pastor L. E. Vogel, her confirmation verse was Joshua 24:15 "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Deloris attended Davenport High School and graduated in 1948. While in high school, Deloris worked as a telephone switchboard operator at the Davenport telephone office. On Sept. 8, 1948, she was united in marriage to Wendell Rex VanSkiver at St. Peters Lutheran Church with Pastor C. G. Stockamp officiating. Deloris became a member of Christ's Lutheran Church on May 26, 1949.
This union was blessed with four children. Max Alan, Wanda Jean, Darla Kay, and Ron Douglas. After marrying Rex, in the early years they lived on farms north and northwest of Davenport. Then Deloris and Rex moved to the VanSkiver home farm east of Davenport in 1960. At the beginning of their marriage, Deloris and Rex spent Saturday evenings running a movie projector for the people of Davenport. She enjoyed working on the farm and in the fields with her husband. She could be found in the farrowing house tending to the newborn baby pigs, driving a tractor in the field, or helping move pipe during irrigating season along with driving a truck at harvest time. They built a new home in Davenport and moved into town in 1977. Deloris liked riding her bike around town with her friend, Annie, on many evenings during summer and fall.
As her children grew, she became active in her church with teaching Sunday School and in the summer Bible School along with the first-year confirmation class for a number of years. Deloris also enjoyed being on the Altar Guild of the church. She also served on the executive board of the Women of the ELCA as secretary and was group chairman for many years.
Deloris was a member of the Home Engineers Extension Club, holding numerous offices over the years and helped make and sell homemade ice cream for Davenport's annual Achievement Day celebration. Deloris was also a Girl Scout leader and 4-H leader. She served as a member on the Davenport Achievement Board. For a time, Deloris worked at the Davenport school, first as a teachers aid, then as a secretary followed by being an assistant speech pathologist through the service unit helping students with speech problems.
Deloris enjoyed traveling with her husband in all the campers they had over the years. Using their motorhomes, they covered the lower 48 states and even took it on an extended trip through Canada to Alaska and back. Deloris and Rex were able to visit all 50 states when they followed the Husker football team to a game in Hawaii. For many years you could find them during the fall in their seats in the northwest part of Memorial Stadium wearing red and cheering "Go Big Red."
After retiring from the farm, Deloris worked as a funeral assistant for the Urbauer-Price Funeral Home in Davenport for 20, plus years. Deloris moved into Hebron's Courtyard Terrace Assisted Living Nursing Home in March of 2012. Then in April of 2020 she took up residence at the Blue Valley Nursing Home, also in Hebron.
Deloris was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Rex; infant granddaughter, Sara Jane Voigt; a brother, Melvin Rodenburg, at 2-years of age; three sisters and their husbands, Alice (Walter) Holtzen, Marion (Kenneth) Conrad, Aleen (Alvin) Walkenhorst; and two nephews, Gary Conrad and DuWayne Holtzen and great-nephew, Gary Conrad, Jr.
She is survived by her children Max (Sue) VanSkiver, Nelson; Wanda (Richard) Mosier, Lincoln, Nebraska; Darla (Doug) Voigt, St. Paul; Ron (Rhonda) VanSkiver, Sutherland; 14 grandchildren, Mark (Wendy) VanSkiver, Hebron; Carissa (Jace) Pierce, Miller, Nebraska; Courtney (Drew) Giesenhagen, Milford, Nebraska; Micaela (Seth) Williams, Hastings; Nathan (Angela Jo) Mosier, West Lafayette, Indiana; Lance (Angela) Mosier, Omaha; Kelly (Nancy) Mosier, Lincoln, Nebraska; Casie (Jon) Olsen, Grand Island; Kirsten (Ryan) Kruse, Grand Island; Erika (Chris) Klassen, St. Paul; Kinsey (Mike) Forden, North Platte; Regan (Brian) Clymer, Omaha; Alison VanSkiver, Tacoma, Washington; Paige VanSkiver, Sutherland; 22 great-grandchildren, Maddox, Rex and Knox VanSkiver, Hebron; Odette and Emmett Pierce, Miller, Nebraska; Freyja Williams, Hastings; Kylie Rose, Devaney and Braden Mosier, West Lafayette, Indiana; Erin and John Mosier, Omaha; Owen and Amelie Mosier, Lincoln, Nebraska; Kaydence and Quinn Olsen, Grand Island; Ray and Rylee Kruse, Grand Island; Cooper and Easton Klassen, St. Paul; Keirra, Logan and Jaxon Forden, North Platte. In 2023, two more great-grandchildren are on the way, a baby Giesenhagen, Milford, and a baby Clymer, Omaha, will bring the total to 24. Along with many nephews, nieces, other relatives, and friends.
Her funeral was held at 2 p.m., on Tuesday, Dec. 27, from the Christ's Lutheran Church in Davenport, Nebraska with the Rev. Beth Roegner officiating.
Music was "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," "Old Rugged Cross," "Amazing Grace" and "Beautiful Savior."
Pallbearers were Nathan Mosier, Kelly Mosier, Ryan Kruse, Seth Williams, Lance Mosier, Jon Olsen, Drew Giesenhagen, Brian Clymer, Mark VanSkiver, Jace Pierce, Mike Forden and Chris Klassen. Honorary pallbearers were Angela Jo Mosier, Casie Olsen, Kirsten Kruse, Micaela Williams, Alison VanSkiver, Angela Dawn Mosier, Carissa Pierce, Courtney Giesenhagen, Regan Clymer, Paige VanSkiver, Wendy VanSkiver, Nancy Mosier, Kinsey Forden and Erika Klassen.
Interment was in the Davenport City Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to go to the Christ Lutheran Church or Blue Valley Lutheran Home Courtyard Terrace.
Condolences may be sent to Megrue-Price Funeral Home, 750 N Commercial, Superior, Nebraska 68978 or in care of www.price funeralhomes.com.
Megrue-Price Funeral Home of Superior, was in charge of the arrangements.
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