Delpha Lorraine McAloon

On Saturday, February 12, 2022, the Lord set her spirit free from a body tormented by Parkinson’s disease. Delpha, formerly of Sheboygan, resided in Appleton, Wisconsin, for the last four years.

Delpha was born on December 13, 1946, to Vinton and Margaret  Colclasure. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education at Illinois Wesleyan University and her Master of Music in Music Education with an emphasis in Kodaly from Silver Lake College. Delpha met her beloved, Robert, a science teacher, at Urban Junior High School. They married in 1970 in the little chapel at St. Luke United Methodist Church. She taught music at many Sheboygan Area Schools over the course of several decades, teaching middle school choir, guitar, and piano at Farnsworth Middle School until her retirement in 2005.

As a devoted church organist, she welcomed many children and adults to the church at their baptisms, celebrated with many couples at their weddings, and mourned with many families at the funerals of their loved ones. She was proud of being able to help secure a new Robert L. Sipe pipe organ, ensuring that many others would be able to enjoy organ music for many years to come.

Delpha was a member of Lakeshore Chorale of Sheboygan. She enjoyed touring with this group across Europe singing in Great Britain, Poland, Austria and Italy. While on these trips, she had the opportunity to play the organ in several historic cathedrals. She also helped found the Lakeshore Youth Chorale.

In addition to her musical gifts, Delpha was an expert at many fiber arts. As her children grew, she made each of them beautiful Christmas and Easter outfits. She knit many sweaters, mittens, hats, and socks for her family. In her retirement she added basket weaving, spinning, felting, chain mail jewelry, and weaving into her repertoire. She made many friends at the Shuttlecraft Guild of Sheboygan and at Sievers School of Fiber Arts in Door County.

Delpha became an avid gardener when they moved to a house on five acres. Bob planted, watered and weeded. She cooked with fresh ingredients from the garden whenever possible. Each summer she made jam, pickles, tomato juice, and salsa. She froze countless bags of green beans, tomatoes, and peas. Every fall it was exciting to find the many pumpkins and gourds hidden among the tall grass. From spring to fall, you would always find a beautiful bouquet of flowers in almost every room in the house.

Delpha is survived by her husband: Robert; children: Amy (Robb), Lori (Todd), and Scott (special friend Cassie); grandchildren: Maria, Casper and Benjamin; sisters: Kathy, Carolyn, and adopted sister Perri; granddogs: Gracie, Caesar, and Bella; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents.

We would like to thank all of the people who helped us care for Delpha as her Parkinson’s disease progressed rapidly over the past two years. We especially want to thank the staff at Eagle Court Memory Care for giving her the quiet and loving care that made her last year so comfortable. We are very appreciative of the support and guidance we received from ThedaCare Hospice.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, February 26, 2022, at St. Luke United Methodist Church, 623 Ontario Avenue, Sheboygan, WI. Visitation will be Saturday at the church from 9:00 am until 11:00 am.

COVID-19 protocols at the church require everyone attending to wear an N95 mask regardless of vaccination status. (Masks will be available, as needed.) Regrettably, we will not be able to host a funeral luncheon.