James Delaney

James “Jim” Myler Delaney died at Our House Memory Care in Austin on May 27, 2015, at the age of 93. He was born June 18, 1921 in East St. Louis, Illinois to Edward and Loretta (Myler) Delaney. He was one of ten children. After high school graduation, Jim was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and played a short time with their farm team. He served in the US Army during WWII, participating in the second wave of military landing at Utah Beach. He was awarded the Silver Star during action in France and was one of the first Americans to cross the Seine River in in the liberation of Paris. In 1943 Jim married Florence Klemme of Washington Park, Illinois. Four years later they moved to Austin, when Jim went to work for Hormel Foods Corporation and pursued his passion for baseball, by playing with the Austin Packers, of the Southern Minny League. Jim also umpired high school and college baseball for many years and coached and mentored American Legion and VFW ball teams. Jim served as a scout for the Baltimore Orioles for many years. He was a long time member of the Austin Eagles Club, American Legion Post #91, VFW Post #1216, Knights of Columbus and Queen of Angels Catholic Church, where he served as an usher. Jim is survived by his daughters; Sandra (Ken) Guckeen of Austin, Joan (Jerry) Grimm of Morrison, Illinois and son; James R. Delaney of Alexandria, Minnesota; 5 grandchildren, Thomas (Julie) Harber, Susan (Tom) Doering, Matthew (Tracy) Grimm, Molly (Brian) Post and Daniel Grimm (Tonya Moening); 7 great-grandchildren, Madison Doering, Samantha Harber, Delaney Doering, Dylan Harber, Riley Doering, Evan Grimm and Gabriela Grimm; his sister, Patricia “Charlotte” Delaney SSND, and many nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his wife Florence on May 3, 1986, his parents, 8 siblings and spouses, son-in-law David Harber, and several nephews. The family would like to thank the staff of Our House Memory Care and St. Croix Hospice for their kind and loving care of Jim. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, June 1, 2015 at Queen of Angels Catholic Church with Father Adam McMillan officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery with military honors provided by the Austin American Legion Post #91 and VFW Post #1216. The family will greet friends on Sunday, May 31, 2015 from 4-6 pm at Mayer Funeral Home and again an hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. The family prefers memorials to the American Legion Post #91 Baseball Program or the choice of the donor.

Service Information

Cemetery

Calvary Cemetery
4th Drive SW
Austin MN 55912

Visitation

Sunday, May 31 2015
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Mayer Funeral Home
600 2nd Street NW P.O. Box 27
Austin MN 55912

Visitation

Monday, June 1 2015
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Queen of Angels Catholic Church
1001 Oakland Avenue East
Austin MN 55912

Service

Monday, June 1 2015
11:00 AM

Queen of Angels Catholic Church
1001 Oakland Avenue East
Austin MN 55912