Delphine “Del” Lano

Obituary

Delphine (Del) Lano passed away peacefully at her home in Norwood Young America, surrounded by family, on September 20, 2020.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 25 from 5-8 pm at Church of the Ascension in Norwood and one hour prior the service on Saturday.  Funeral mass will be held at Ascension on Saturday, September 26 at 11:00 AM with interment following at the church cemetery.  Social distancing will be observed and masks required. 

Born on the family farm in Duelm, MN, Del rode with her seven siblings by horse and sled to Benton County Country School, and graduated from Foley High School in 1946.  After earning her teaching degree from St. Cloud Teachers College, she took a job teaching 5^th/6^th grade at Chaska Public Schools, where she met Dick Lano and became one of four new young Chaska teachers who were snapped up by the local boys for weddings in 1951 after they returned home from serving in World War II.   Dick and Del moved to Norwood in 1962 to expand Lano Equipment.  Del helped out at the Shop and was a substitute teacher at Central, St. Bernards and St. Josephs.  Dick and Del were married for almost 60 years when Dick passed away in 2011.  Del raised 9 children, 17 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.  All of her children remain in the local area and carry on her legacy of commitment to the community.

Del was a servant to the Catholic Church and to the community.  She taught religious education and volunteered in every possible way for the Ascension Church.  She was active in the Young America VFW Auxiliary Post 1783 and Norwood American Legion Aux Post 343, serving veterans as an officer and chairing the Poppy Drive for over 50 years.  She was honored by the American Red Cross for over 50 years of exceptional volunteer service for her work coordinating local blood drives.  She was tenacious in finding donors and volunteers.  She was an active member of the local Booster Club, working behind the scenes as needed and chairing the annual Easter egg hunt.  Every year, she served potato salad at the Legion’s chicken barbecue and sold many boxes of popcorn at the Stiftungsfest celebration.  She was named Outstanding Senior Volunteer of Carver County in 2010.  When she and Dick began wintering in Arizona after retirement, she organized the annual Minnesota party for the Fountain of the Sun retirement community.  They made many special friends in Arizona.  

Del was a gifted seamstress.  She loved to sew, quilt, play cards, paint ceramics and decorate birthday cakes.  She was a scout troop leader and attended every Central band concert, football, basketball and volleyball game that one of her kids played.  She is famous for her Del’s Dill Pickles, home-made cinnamon rolls, Scotcharoos and strawberry jam.  She never rested. 

Del was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard "Dick" Lano; parents, Tom and Mary (Winkelman) Hennek, siblings, Raymond LaVigne, Marion Anderson, Goodwin Hennek, Alvina Fiecke, LeRoy Hennek; in-laws, Calvin Anderson, Thecla Hennek, Larry Fiecke, Cyril Wolter, Midge Hennek, Cecky and Ray Maiser, Joe and Audrey Lano, Francis Lano, Sis Lano, Barbara and John Doyle, Gerhard Lano, Marie and Dick Henk, Ben and Mercedes Lano.

She is survived by her children, Thomas "Tom" Lano, Jack (Janell) Lano, Bill (Bonnie) Lano, Mary (Curt) Wilson, Ann (Jon) Wengronowitz, Paul (Terri) Lano, Bob (Julie) Lano, Barbara (Mike) Rummel, Andy (Kari) Lano; grandchildren, Katherine Lano, Elizabeth Lano, Jenny (Ben) Ische, Jamie (Brent) Kritzeck, Lindsey (Matt) Newman, Nick (Amanda) Lano, Sara Wilson, Matt (Nicole) Wilson, Angela (Brian) Splettstoeszer, Jessica Wengronowitz, Emily Lano, Ben Lano, Maria (fiancé Jimmy Otteson) Rummel, Anna Rummel, Michaela (fiancé Trevor Long) Lano, Margaret Lano, Jacob Lano; 11 great grandchildren; siblings, GraceAnn Wolter, Cyrus Hennek; in-laws, Joan Hennek, Clarence Lano, Rebecca Lano; as well as many nieces and nephews in the Hennek and Lano families.

Memorials preferred to Ascension Church or the American Red Cross.