August 30, 1929 – November 8, 2026
DeVere L. Delzell, age 97, of Olney, Illinois, passed away on November 8, 2026, at his home.
DeVere was born on August 30, 1929, in Champaign, Illinois, the son of Lester E. and Ruth V. (Cazel) Delzell.
DeVere married Yvonne L. Medlin on January 24, 1954, in Pinkstaff, Illinois and she preceded him in death on July 2, 2000. On June 4, 2004, he married Geneva L. Fisk and she survives. Devere proudly served his country in the Korean War serving in the United States Army.
A Celebration of Life for DeVere will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 1:00 PM at the Meyer Funeral Home in Olney, Illinois. There will be a visitation for family and friends 1 hour prior to the service. Burial will follow the service in Crest Haven Memorial Park in Claremont, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, the local VFW Post 4426 or The Wounded Worrier Project.
The obituary can be viewed, and condolences left at www.meyerfh.com.
DeVere was a lifelong farmer. He lived a life anchored by hard work and unshakable love of his family, the land and his country. For more than 70 years, DeVere worked from sunrise to sunset tending his family farm in Richland County. Whether he was harvesting crops or fixing machinery in the barn, he found peace and purpose in the soil. He believed in leaving the land better than he found it and taught his children the value of an honest days work. Genesis 2:15 “Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to cultivate is and keep it”. DeVere worked in a few different jobs over the years, including Prairie farms, Thrall Railroad Car Manufacturing in Clinton, Illinois, a Real Estate Agent and salesman for Na-Churs Liquid Fertilizer. He was a long-time member of local civic clubs including the Eagles, Elks, Moose, VFW and American Legion. DeVere owned and showed classic cars and loved going to the shows. DeVere loved his family, loved people and never knew a stranger.
DeVere is survived by:
Wife; Geneva Delzell of Flora, Illinois
Daughters; Darla Delzell-Brooks of Decatur, Illinois
Jamie (John) Horn of Mason, Ohio
Janet Delzell-Foster of Maineville, Ohio
Son-in-Law; Thomas Brooks of Decatur, Illinois
Grandchildren; Alain (Mary) Miller, Lesa (Daniel) Durbin, J.D. Horn II, Jana Horn, Casey Brooks, Caleb Brooks, Savannah Foster, Sydney Foster
Great-Grandchildren; Kody, Noah, Alana, John, Benjamin, Emily, Aubrey, Hunter, Ellie, Remington
and Great-great granddaughter Natallie
DeVere was preceded in death by his parents, Lester E. and Ruth V. (Cazel) Delzell, first wife Yvonne,
brother DaVon Delzell and Great- great-granddaughter Miley
