Harry Delbecq

Rushville, IN Harry Delbecq passed away peacefully at home on April 24, 2025 surrounded by family. He was 99 years old. Born November 3,1925, with his twin, Mary Beck, in Defiance, Ohio to Anna (Mekus) and Bernard Delbecq, along with four other siblings. He enlisted and served honorably in the United States Navy during WWII on the USS Audrain in the Pacific Theater. After his Navy service in WWII, he married Loretta Rosebrock, (deceased 1977), and had seven children.

He was a catcher on a baseball team for St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Defiance, OH after the war. A lifelong farmer and agrarian, he expertly grew crops, food, flowers, and had many animals. He loved seeing the seasonal changes and noticed everything, especially when the grass needed mowing and the straightness of crop rows. By necessity, he could fix anything and knew where all the right tools could be found. He had a great sense of humor and was always a prankster. He worked way too hard, was always ornery, and a friend to everyone young and old. You rarely saw him without a hat or chewing tobacco, and noticed his twinkling blue eyes. Taking an aspirin was a very big deal to him and rarely done. In the late 1970’s, Meniere’s Syndrome left him mostly deaf. Amazingly, that was the only physical ailment from which he suffered. However, he could convincingly fake understanding conversations till the end. Formerly a farmer (1965-1987) in Waterloo, IN, he moved to a farm in Rushville, IN for the remaining 36 years of his life. He lived there with his daughters, Debra and Darlene Delbecq, who provided loving care.

He is survived by Diane Trapp, (Charlie Trapp) Wolcottville; Elaine Delbecq (James Knapp, deceased) Indianapolis; Darlene Delbecq, Rushville; Debra Delbecq, Rushville; Karen McInerny (Daniel McInerny) Indianapolis and Brenda Hughett (James Hughett, deceased), Indianapolis; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren and sibling, Virginia Von Seggern. Son, Roger Delbecq, died in 2008. He was predeceased by his siblings: Kathryn Steffan, Louis Delbecq, Mary Beck and Robert Delbecq.

Visitation will be at St. Michael’s Catholic Church,1098 CR 39, Waterloo, IN, 46793 on Saturday, May 10, 2025 from 10 to 11 am followed by a Celebratory Funeral Mass at 11 am. Graveside Burial and Military Honors directly following the funeral mass. Donations may be made to St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Waterloo or St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Rushville or Reid Hearing Center, Attention: Dr. Stacy Borden www.ReidHealth.org

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