Memorial services for James R. Delger, 81, of Albert Lea will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home. The Rev. Russell Scepaniak will officiate. Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Wednesday. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Jim died Thursday, March 16, 2017, at his home following a courageous battle with cancer surrounded by his loving family.

James Richard Delger was born Nov. 20, 1935, in Kanawha, Iowa, the son of Jacob and Grace (Terhaek) Delger. Jim married Sharon Lang in 1956 and had two children, Randy and Roxie. The couple later divorced. On Nov. 9, 1985, Jim married Gwendolyn Rayman at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea, immediately forming a large family with Gwen’s six children and Jim’s two children. Jim worked for 33 years at Wilson & Co. Following his retirement, he worked at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea and McDonald’s in maintenance. Jim enjoyed fishing, gardening, working in the yard and working on his boat. He loved spending time with family and friends, barbeques, watching Wheel of Fortune and the Minnesota Twins with Gwen, and taking trips to Diamond Jo Casino.

Jim is survived by his wife of 31 years, Gwen; children Cheryl (Paul) Skatter of Albert Lea, Susan (Mickey) Myers of Big Folk, Cindy (Bob) Solomonson of Mesa, Arizona, Sara (Greg) Higgins of Owatonna, David (Rio) Rayman of Tempe, Arizona, Amy (Mohammad) Belal of Rochester, Randy Delger of Freeborn and Roxie (Steve) Poliak of River Falls, Wisconsin; 23 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren; brothers Anno (Donna) Delger of Glenville and Kermit Delger of Albert Lea; sister, Jenny Hove, of Albert Lea; and many nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; daughter-in-law, Nancy Delger; and grandson, Micah Myers.