Hirtz, Delores E. (Singsank)

Delores E. (Singsank) Hirtz, 93, of Cascade, died at 12:40 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, at Shady Rest Care Center in Cascade. Friends and relatives of Delores may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Reiff Funeral Home in Cascade, where a Catholic Daughters and American Legion rosary will be held at 4:30 p.m. and a wake service will be held at 6:30 p.m.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 2, at St. Martin's Catholic Church in Cascade, with the Rev. Douglas Loecke officiating. Burial will be held in Calvary Cemetery in Cascade, Iowa.

Delores Esther Hirtz was born on Sept. 15, 1917, on the family farm in Luxemburg, Iowa. She was the eldest child of Clemens and Grace (Thillen) Singsank. Delores married Raphael Cornelius Hirtz on Nov. 27, 1952, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville. He preceded her in death on Nov. 25, 1973.

Delores spent her life in service to others. With only a seventh grade education she left school to help care for her younger brothers and sisters and to work outside the home to help support the growing family. She worked many jobs in Dyersville and Dubuque, before her marriage and after marrying Raphael she worked in Cascade including the Rolling Hills Veterinary Clinic, until retiring when she was 80.

Delores was a 50 plus year member of the American Legion Auxiliary holding many offices in the local and county organizations. During the summer she could always be found in the Auxiliary lunch stand serving sandwiches during ball games. She was an active member of the Catholic Daughters of the America's Our Blessed Mother Court No. 1926, the Shady Rest Auxiliary and St. Matthias Rosary Society.

She learned to quilt and embroider at an early age and continued with those hobbies throughout her life. She enjoyed cooking and canning. She had a green thumb and always had beautiful flowers and a garden. She made the best raspberry jam. She loved to travel on bus trips with her friends and traveled to many places with her daughter. She loved listening to Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and Lawrence Welk.

Delores was a wonderful mother, sister and friend. She will be dearly missed by all who loved her.

She is survived by her daughter, Ruth Ann Hirtz of East Moline, Ill.; two sisters, Eileen Dingbaum of Dyersville, and Mae (Alphonse) Pasker of Manchester; brothers and sisters-in-law, Irvin (Virgie) Singsank and Gerald (Helen) Singsank, both of Luxemburg, and Jane Singsank of Dubuque; and many nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Clarence Singsank and Gilbert Singsank; a sister, Marcella Steffen; brothers-in-law, Alver Dingbaum and Harold Steffen; and a sister-in-law, Mercedes Singsank.

Memorials for Delores may be given to St. Matthias Parish in Cascade, or Divine Word College, Epworth.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at .