Robert Deelstra, 59, has gone home, leaving behind a circle of those who loved him.
Some stories deserve to be told slowly. This is one of them.
Robert's story began in 1954, and unfolded across the years that followed.
Robert held deeply to the Catholic faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew him best.
Belief, when lived, becomes a kind of inheritance.
Parker. Robert Deelstra, 59 died Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at Sanford USD Medical Center, Sioux Falls. Funeral mass will be at 10:30am Saturday, March 8, 2014 at St. Christina Catholic Church, Parker with burial in Rosehill Cemetery, Parker. Visitation with family present will be from 4-7:00pm Friday at the church with a scripture service and rosary to begin at 7:30pm Friday evening at the church. Robert Michael Deelstra was born on July 6, 1954 at McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls to Jake and Theresa (Gates) Deelstra. He grew up at Parker where he graduated from Parker High School in 1972. On April 14, 1975 he was united in marriage to Donna Quick at St. Christina Catholic Church, Parker. He was employed in the shipping and receiving department at Schwartz Manufacturing for 44 years until they ceased operations in 2011. Since that time he has been employed with the Turner County Highway Department. Robert also worked part time in maintenance with Skogen-Peterson Apartments and for the past number of years with Menards. He was a lifelong member of St. Christina Catholic Church, a past member of the Parker Jaycees, he enjoyed hunting, and spending time with his granddaughter Saige. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Donna; 2 sons, Ross (Echo) Deelstra and Kelly Deelstra, all of Tea; a granddaughter Saige; his mother, Theresa Deelstra, Parker; 7 brothers and sisters, Shirley (Jim) Glirbas, Tea, Karen (Roger) Voss, Sioux Falls, Marcene (John) Kleinschmit, Tea, Charlene (Larry) Quick, Parker, Wayne (Nancy) Deelstra, Watertown, Ron (Kelly) Deelstra, Canton, and Sharon (Del) Stroud, Sioux Falls; sister in law, Julie (Jody) Marsh, Parker; his father in law, Wayne Quick, Parker; and 63 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, an infant brother Robert James, his mother in law Rea, and a brother in law, Terry.
