Delmer James Reimer, beloved husband, father, and community leader passed away, on October 31, 2023, in the comfort of his residence at Schowalter Villa in Hesston, Kansas.
Delmer was born at home on the farm in Diller, Nebraska, on June 1, 1929, to parents Pete and Agatha Reimer. He was the fourth of five children and the last surviving child. In 1940, his family relocated to Buhler, Kansas where he helped his father with their family hatchery and mill. When he wasn’t working on the family farm, Delmer was striving to be the best at any sport he could try. His early passion for competitive sports would go on to shape his life and legacy.
On October 6, 1951, Delmer married the love of his life, Geraldine Louise Toews, originally from Kremlin, Oklahoma. Together, they raised a loving family of four sons: Timothy (Anita) Reimer of Wichita, Kansas; Mark (Hue) Reimer of Tequesta, Florida; Steven (Stephanie) Reimer of Crosby, Minnesota; and Paul (Karla) Reimer of Seabeck, Washington. Delmer and Geraldine were blessed with 12 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren, all of whom cherished their time with their grandfather.
In 1952, Delmer earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education from Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas. His lifelong career as a coach and educator was put on hold by the Korean War. Delmer served as an X-ray technician for the Topeka State Hospital for two years of alternative national service.
In 1957, Delmer embarked on his 30-year tenure at Tabor College. Over the years he held multiple roles on campus, including Professor of Physical Education, Athletic Director, and the Head Coach of basketball, tennis, soccer, and track and field. Delmer’s love of higher education and sports was unwavering. During two brief stints away from Tabor he obtained a master’s degree from Emporia State University in 1962 and a Doctorate from the University of Northern Colorado in 1969. When not impacting lives at Tabor, Delmer was serving communities and institutions in the broader Heartland Region. His steadfast leadership to build a flourishing competitive sporting environment in the region earned him national recognition and numerous awards.
Delmer was also committed to his faith and his community. After leaving Tabor, Del worked for two years at World Impact in Wichita assisting with the operations of an inner-city health center and six years at Mennonite Mutual Aid serving five midwestern states. Delmer and Gerry were lifelong and active members of the Mennonite Brethren Conference, attending churches in Hillsboro, Kansas, Wichita, Kansas, and Hesston, Kansas, where they found their final home.
Delmer is survived by Gerry who continues to reside at Showalter Villa. A memorial service will be held at the Hesston Mennonite Church on November 11, 2023, at 10:30 AM. The event will be livestreamed on the www.hesstonmc.org/memorial. A lunch will be served following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Tabor College or the Mennonite Central Committee. Condolences and memories can also be shared on the Miller-Ott website.