1933 ~ 2024
Delilah Mae Hendrickson (who preferred to be called “Del”) died at 4 pm on July 19th, 2024 at Watercrest Assisted Living in Santa Rosa Beach,Florida,with her loving family.
Del was born October 19th, 1933, in Waupaca County, Dupont, Wisconsin, to Esther and Rudolph Genskow. She was preceded in death by her husband. Her older brother, Earl Genskow and her younger brother, Larry Genskow are living and survived Del’s death.
Del attended Clintonville High School and was gifted with a beautiful soprano voice. She participated in many musical activities there, including the “Mikado.” She loved to dance and play the accordion. She danced at a dance place in Shano, Wisconsin, and listened to Duke Ellington. Del did a wonderful jitterbug!
Del worked in Milwaukee, Appleton and Clintonville, Wisconsin. She worked as a medical secretary in Clintonville Hospital, where she met her husband, Al, who had had an operation there. He was fell in love and began writing to her while he was at Columbia University. They were married in 1954 and had two daughters, Nancy and Amy. Del sang to her two baby girls , and to her grandchildren later on.
Del attended German and music courses at Michigan Technological University and Suomi College, receiving her honorary music degree from Suomi. Del had a long career in music.
Her life expressed Martin Luther’s quote, “Music is a fair and glorious gift of God.” He claimed that music was a gift from God, capable of fighting evil and promoting good. Del did that through her boundless singing, whether it was as a soloist at weddings or funerals, or singing in musical groups. She taught piano and voice lessons at Suomi College and was involved in chorales, including the Birmingham Chorale in England, while her husband was on sabbatical leave there. For many years, she was the choir director at St. Peter and Paul Lutheran Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church. Del had numerous interests and shared a love of sports with her husband. She enjoyed downhill and cross-country skiing, as well as biking and playing tennis. She also volunteered at the Houghton Arts Council and enjoyed knitting,crossstitching, gardening and reading.
Del loved her grandchildren, neighbors and celebrations. Del hosted tea parties for grandchildren on the deck at Good Harbor Bay. She had a heart of gold and welcomed people from other countries while her husband was at Michigan Tech. The staff at Watercrest all loved her, especially her singing, and called Del “their little sunshine.”
Del is survived by her oldest daughter, Nancy and George Haddad of Medford, MA; and her younger daughter, Amy and John of Inlet Beach, Fl who is close to Watercrest Assisted Living.
Additionally, Del leaves behind Amy’s three children, Brigitte, Gretchen and Dietrich.
There will be a private graveside service with family at the Beechwood Cemetery in Leland, Michigan on August 16th.
In lieu of flowers, please send memories of Del and donations to Leland Public Library.
