Karen Ann Apple Delp, 86, a lifetime resident of Marshall County, passed peacefully on Sept. 4, 2024, after a brave battle with cancer, surrounded by her loving family, in the Ernestine M. Raclin House for Hospice, Mishawaka.
Karen was born on Aug. 3, 1938, in Plymouth, to Herschell and Shirley Coar Apple. She grew up south of Bourbon, at one of the family homesteads, known as the Apple-Coar Farms and attended Tippecanoe Schools and later got her GED.
On May 20, 1954, in her family home, Karen and Richard “Dick” Delp were united in marriage and enjoyed 58 years together until Dick’s passing in 2012. Together they founded Delp Electric Inc. in Bourbon and in 1964 they moved their four kids and business to Plymouth. Karen worked many years at Delp Electric but eventually left for other employment opportunities.
She worked at Feagler Law Office, was treasurer for Marshall County and helped her daughter-in-law Judy with her new adventure at The Cross Walk Bookstore. You could find Karen for the last several years on Wednesdays busily volunteering at the Marshall County Historical Museum in Plymouth.
Karen and Dick loved to travel, and she especially loved the Southwest. They went on many annual summer vacations with their kids and sometimes other family members or friends traveling with them. Karen and Dick were fortunate to visit every state in the United States, some several times, and Canada and Mexico. She enjoyed many trips abroad, with Dick, seeing Italy, Switzerland, England, Brazil, Bolivia, Australia, New Zealand and China. Later she enjoyed traveling with her sister, Carol, to see two of Carol’s grandkids play professional volleyball in Germany and Croatia. They also made a trip together to the Galapagos Islands. Karen’s favorite pastime was attending many events that her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids were involved in. If Karen wasn’t home, you most likely could find her at a sporting event to support her grandkids and great-grandkids. She attended many basketball, baseball, football, volleyball, swimming, tennis, track, soccer, wrestling events and was looking forward to learning about lacrosse. Karen was a past member of Eastern Star, Delta Theta Tau Sorority, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Tippecanoe Home Economics Club and Historical Society of Marshall County.
Karen is survived by her children: son, Michael (Judy) Delp; son-in-law, Don Wendel; daughter, Deborah (Mark) Gidley; son, David (Pam) Delp; sons, Marcelo (Darlene) Suvelza; and Ricardo (Vera Lia) Bonganhi. Karen is survived by eight grandkids and 25 great-grandkids: Michael (Heather) Delp, kids, Taylor and Trey; Valerie Medema, kids: Brooke, Allyson and Isabelle; Erica (Jay) Sefton, kids: Gage, Bryce, Drake and Ciera; Matthew (Lisa) Gidley, kids: Madeline, Albin and Rhys; Laura (Zach) Scott, kids: Grady, Maisy and Ellyn; Shannon (Andy) McGuire, kids: Eli, Branson, Carter, Emersyn, Irelynn, Anderson and Kade; Anthony (Lauren, fiancée) Delp; Stacey (Jordan) Adams, kids: Finley, Shelby and Stella. Karen is also survived by her sister, Carol (Richard) Steele, sister-in-law, Shirley Delp Ball, cousins and many nieces and nephews.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her daughter, Michele Wendel, granddaughter, Krista Kay Delp, grandson, Adam Delp, grandson-in-law, Joe Medema, brother, Hal Apple, his wife, Linda and sister in-law, Sandra Delp Lozier and her husband, Garry.
Services for Karen will be on Sunday, Sept. 8 at First United Methodist Church (Faith First Fellowship Church), 204 N. Washington St., Bourbon. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. with services to follow at 4 p.m.
Thank you to our friends and community for your support during this difficult time.
Deaton-Clemens Funeral Home wishes to extend our deepest condolences to the Delp family and is honored to be providing our services in celebrating the life of Karen.
In lieu of flowers, Karen has requested that memorial contributions be made to: The Cancer Association of Marshall County, P.O. Box 895, Plymouth IN 46563; or Marshall County Historical Museum, 123 N. Michigan St., Plymouth IN 46563.
Friends are invited to sign the online guest book and share memories with the family at www.deatonclemensfh.com.