Delbert Alfred Depner

Delbert Alfred Depner, age 76, of Mansfield, WA passed away peacefully on December 13, 2017, going home to be with his Heavenly Father and to meet again with loved ones gone before him. Delbert was born on July 6, 1941 to Delmer and lona (Washburn) Depner in Spokane, WA. His family moved to Mansfield in 1949. After graduating from Mansfield High School in 1959, Delbert attended Washington State University and graduated in 1964 with a degree in Industrial Arts. On February 19, 1965 Delbert married the love of his life, Julia Gayne Gifford, whom he had met at church camp. He served his country as a pilot in the Air Force in Vietnam. Following his time in the military, Delbert worked alongside his father-in-law building several dams and bridges on the Columbia River. He returned to Mansfield in 1973 to farm alongside his father. Delbert loved spending time with family and friends and being outdoors. He enjoyed flying, waterskiing, fishing, hunting, and camping. Delbert was extremely active until a farming accident left him a quadriplegic in 1986. From then on his love of planting and harvesting shifted from wheat production to vegetable and flower gardening around his home. He found more time to travel in his RV by attending annual family reunions at Conconully and Williams Lake and joining other snowbirds in Arizona during the cold winter months. Delbert was a member of the St. Andrews Grange, Gideon’s, and Mansfield Community Church/Church of God. Delbert is preceded in death by his wife, Julia "Gayne" Depner, parents, Delmer and Iona Depner, and father-in-law, Wayne Gifford. He is survived by his children, Lorraine (Daniel) Bramstedt and John (Amy) Depner; grandchildren, Julia Bramstedt, Katelyn Bramstedt, and John Paul Depner; sister, Evelyn (Keith) Brown; and mother-in-law, Nita Gifford. The family would like to offer special thanks to VIP Adult Family Living, Hospice, and Delbert's caregivers for their tender care. Funeral services will be Saturday, January 6, 2018 at 11:00 am at Mansfield Community Church, 36 2nd Ave, Mansfield WA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gideon's International at P.O. Box 97251, Washington, DC 20090-7251 (https://www2.gideons.org/donate) or to your local Hospice.

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Delbert Alfred Depner

July 6, 1941 - December 13, 2017