Delburt Pigsley

Delburt Pigsley, 89, of Kamrar died Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Southfield Wellness Community of cancer.  Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 from 5-7 PM at the Community Church of Kamrar.  Funeral Service will be 10:30 AM on Wednesday May 15, 2024, at Community Church of Kamrar near Kamrar with Pastor Peter Mueller officiating.  Burial will be in Community Church Cemetery.  The family has chosen Boman Funeral Home (www.bomanfh.com) to care for their needs.

Delburt Lavern Pigsley was born February 23, 1935, in Cass County, Iowa to Burt “Vern” and Emaline (Fries) Pigsley.  He was raised and educated in Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska, graduating from Woodbine Normal High School in Woodbine, Iowa in 1954.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1957, completing basic training at Fort Chaffee in Arkansas.  He was then deployed to Karlsruhe, Germany (1957-1959).  Following his initial enlistment, he served in the Ready Reserves until 1963.  In 1959, he married Shirley M. Ellison at First Christian Church in Woodbine.  They lived in various places in Iowa before moving to Kamrar more than 50 years ago.

In addition to Delburt’s time in the Army, he worked for various farmers and other agricultural businesses including Walnut Grove (Mapleton), Walnut Grove Feed (Nevada) and Walnut Grove Fertilizer (Ames), Custom Farm Service (Kamrar), Kamrar Co-op which later became a location of United Cooperative until his retirement in 2000 after 28 years.  Following retirement from United Coop, he worked with Pigsley Brothers Construction, drove truck for Kamrar area farmers, and drove for Southfield Wellness Community.

Del had a servants’ heart.  He was always willing to help others whether it was through one of the many organizations he was involved with or simply helping with repair work, lawn mowing, etc.  Over the years, he was active with multiple Christian organizations including Mariners with United Presbyterian Church, Kamrar; Deacon, Elder, and adult Sunday school teacher for Webster City Church of Christ, and member of Community Church of Kamrar.  Del was an active volunteer within the community.  He served on Kamrar’s city council and was a Scout leader.  He was very actively involved with Kamrar Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department for at least 30 years beginning in the early 1970s as emergency medical responder and firefighter.  He was a graduate of the inaugural Emergency Medical Technician class in Hamilton County, was Assistant Fire Chief for a time and Fire Chief for 10 years. He was campground co-host at Briggs Woods for several years.

Del willingly filled roles as Dad, Grandpa and more for family and friends.  He enjoyed attending events that his children, grandchildren and “adopted” grandchildren were involved in and supported many fund-raising efforts over the years.  He taught his kids to hunt, fish, camp, and do mechanics and carpentry.  He liked animals, jigsaw puzzles, sudoku, games, playing cards and having a good time.

Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law:  Scott and Nancy Pigsley of Avoca, and Burton and Amy Pigsley of Kamrar, and daughter:  Denise Morgan of Kamrar; eleven grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren with another one on the way; brothers, Eldon (Judy) Pigsley and Ivan (Carole) Pigsley, sister, Jeri (Ted) Hayes all of Webster City, brothers-in-law, Don Clark and Dencil (Dorothy) Hammack of Woodbine, several nieces, nephews and other extended family.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley, parents, Vern and Emaline, parents-in-law Elmer and Nellie (Flaherty) Ellison, a child in infancy, sister in infancy, sisters Norma Kluever and Carolyn (Dean) Dilley, sisters-in-law, DeLoris (Bob) Hull, LaVonna Clark, Vonda Hammack and Dorothy Mae McCallum, son-in-law, Timothy Morgan, and twin grandsons.

Del’s wishes were for memorials to be given to Community Church of Kamrar Youth Group and/or Kamrar Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department.