Delbert (Del) Leroy Knowlton Obituary

Delbert (Del) Leroy Knowlton, 85, of Mendota went to be with the Lord on March 20, surrounded by his family in his home.

Delbert Knowlton

Funeral services were Tuesday at 11 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church, Mendota, with Rev. Mary Bohall officiating. Burial was at Wisner Cemetery. Visitation was Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. in the church. Merritt Funeral Home,

Del was born July 4, 1933 in Baron, Wis. to Duane and Ida (Greenwold) Knowlton. He married Geneva Black on June 29, 1952 in Meriden.

Del was not born or raised in Mendota but he has spent most of this life serving the people of the Worlds Greatest Little City. He is originally from Baron, Wis. and the oldest of 14 children of Duane and Ida Knowlton. He came to Mendota at 18 for the first time on September 24, 1950 to visit his parents who had moved here a year earlier. He was out of work at the time as the farmer who he had been working for was struck by lightning and died.

The day after his arrival in Mendota he applied for a job and started working for General Telephone Company the very next day. That was the beginning of a 42-year career with GTE. Making 75 cents per hour he started on the line crew in Somonauk but traveled throughout the state installing and repairing telephone poles and lines. Due to his unparalleled work ethic and dedication he was promoted several times, becoming a manager in both Wisconsin and Illinois before he retired in 1991.

To state Delbert was active and involved in the Mendota community is an incredible understatement. Here is a list of some of his activities and involvements: Mendota Rotary Club, Mendota Moose Lodge, Mendota Golf Club, Exalted Ruler of Mendota Elks Lodge 1212 and loved his time there, Assistant Fire Chief of Mendota Fire Department, tornado spotter for Civil Defense, Mendota Civic Center board member, Mendota Museum and Historical Society Board, past president of Mendota Chamber of Commerce, Toys for Tots, Operation Elf Action, Mendota Sweet Corn Festival where he was proud and honored with the title of Grand Marshall just two years ago.

Other then the times he lived in Belvidere and Wisconsin, Del served as a Mendota Alderman beginning in 1981 and regretfully had to resign when he moved out of his ward to Stonecroft Village after the loss of his beloved Geneva. Mayor Boelk would not let him leave quietly so he created a new position as Senior Community Liaison working with the seniors of Mendota helping them set up programs and giving them a voice at City Council meetings. In 2004 Delbert was awarded with the Citizens of the Year award and in 2014 he was honored with the HD Hume Award for Outstanding Community Service at the annual Mendota Chamber of Commerce dinner. Lastly, Del continued to make new friends until his passing and was fortunate to spend the last year with a very special friend Joan DeWeerth also from Stonecroft. She provided many hours of friendship and companionship. He was so beloved by the residents and staff they referred to him as the “Mayor of Stonecroft”.

He is survived by his four children Michael (Kimberly) Knowlton of DeKalb, Rodney Knowlton of Lake Carroll, James (Cindy) Knowlton of Dixon, and Sandra (Brad) Bradford of Triumph; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-granddaughter; three brothers and five sisters.

He was preceded by his parents, his beloved wife Geneva in 2016, daughter Patricia Sue, two brothers, and three sisters.

Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church.