Delbert Kilgas, age 83 of Seymour passed away Saturday, August 24th, 2019 at Lutheran Community Home after ten years of Parkinson’s Disease. He was born in Dudleytown to the late Henry H. & Lillian (Bobb) Kilgas.
Delbert was baptized and confirmed at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Dudleytown and graduated in 1954 from Shields High School in Seymour, where he was active in the Future Farmers of America.
On August 25, 1957 Delbert married Marlis Hercamp at Immanuel Lutheran Church. He was a member of several church boards and served as the chairman of the congregation and building committees for the church and school.
Delbert served in the Indiana National Guard and worked at the Jackson County Farm Bureau in Crothersville, Kinco, and American Can Company in Austin. In 1967, he and business partner, Richard Elmore, formed Excel Tool & Die. In 1996, the company divided and Delbert and his son, Brent Kilgas, established Excel Manufacturing, Inc. at Eastside Industrial Park. Delbert had a passion for business and left a 50-year legacy of integrity, problem solving, and genuine care for customers, employees and suppliers. He retired in 2016 at the age of 80.
Delbert was a member of the Seymour Country Club, served on the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Jackson County for ten years and worked closely with the Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation for several decades.
Delbert and Marlis developed and marketed new homes in Rockford Heights Subdivision during the 1990s and early 2000s. Both Delbert and Marlis enjoyed traveling and visited many domestic and international destinations including the Canadian Rockies for their 50th wedding anniversary celebration with the family. National Parks were always a favorite destination.
Delbert is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marlis Kilgas; children Brent (Sandra) Kilgas, Alisa Kilgas, and Shelly Kilgas (Tamara Davis); grandchildren Stephanie (Matthew) Meyers and Mitchell Kilgas (fiancee Lindsey Wetzel); and great-granddaughter Sloane Meyers. Delbert is also survived by sister Alice (Charles) Rebber, brother-in-law Richard Hercamp, and sister-in-law Norma Sullivan Kilgas, and several nieces and nephews along with many dear friends.
Delbert was preceded in death by his mother and father, sister Edna (Virgil) Hallow, sister Dorothy (Erwin) Steinkamp, brother Roger Kilgas, and sister-in-law Joan Hercamp.
Funeral services will be conducted at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Seymour on Wednesday, August 28th, at 10:30 am with Rev. Ralph Blomenberg, Rev. Philip Bloch, Rev. James Rodriguez, and Vicar Kyle Ronchetto officiating. Interment will be at the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery after the service. Family and friends may call at Voss & Sons Funeral Service in Seymour on Tuesday, August 27th, from 4:00-8:00 pm and at Immanuel Lutheran Church on Wednesday after 9:30 am until the time of the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, Trinity Lutheran High School, Lutheran Community Home, Delbert & Marlis Kilgas fund with Community Foundation of Jackson County, or Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease (www.michaeljfox.org).

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