Delores Mae Ensley

July 23, 1932 ~ March 17, 2021

RECORDED FUNERAL SERVICE

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CDC guidelines will be observed and masks are required.

PUBLIC VIEWING DETAILS

Monday, March 22, 2021

8:30 – 10:30 AM

Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home, Inc.

Harlan, IA

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SERVICE DETAILS

Monday, March 22, 2021

10:30 AM

Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home, Inc.

Harlan, IA

(get directions)

Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery, Avoca, IA

SURVIVORS

2 Daughters – Debra Ricklefs of Avoca, IA

Cindy Ensley of Avoca, IA

1 Son – Allen (Kathy) Ensley of Hollis, OK

4 Grandchildren – Rachel (Curt) Roe

Jared Ricklefs

Destiny (B.J.) Cummins

Jamie (Jade) Terbush

6 Great-grandchildren – Jayden Ricklefs

Skyler Roe

Saige Roe

Cooper Cummins

Cara Cummins

Crew Cummins

Other Relatives & Friends

Delores Mae “Dee” Ensley, the daughter of Frank and Bertha (Dirgo) Bergman, was born on July 23, 1932, on the Bergman family farm in Pleasant Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. She attended country school in Pleasant Township before starting sixth grade in the Avoca (Iowa) Public School system. She graduated from Avoca High School on May 18, 1950.

On September 11, 1952, Delores married Wallace LeRoy Ensley in Avoca, Iowa. The couple became the parents of Michael LeRoy, Debra Dee, Cynthia Sue, and Allen Dean. Following their marriage, they moved to San Diego and Imperial Beach, California, where Wallace attended Navy Communication School. In June 1953, Delores returned to Avoca to be with family while Wallace was stationed in Guam. When Wallace returned to the States eighteen months later, he, Delores, and Michael moved to Sonoma, California; they lived there until May 1956, when they returned to Iowa to again be near family.

In January 1957, the family moved to a farm near Avoca, where they lived for a year. In January 1958, they moved closer to Tennant, Iowa. They lived there for thirty-some years, during which time they farmed for Joe Davis. Later, they rented some of the Davis farmland along with the Bergman family farm.

On November 25, 1990, Wallace and Delores moved to the Bergman farm; they continued to farm the Davis land for several more years. In 2001, they retired from farming but continued to live on the Bergman family farm, which Delores’ great-grandparents developed from prairie land. In recent years, the couple lived at Avoca Specialty Care in Avoca, Iowa.

Delores enjoyed gardening to help feed her family, as well as tending the family flowers as long as her health allowed. In her later years, she collected family furniture, pictures, and dishes. She enjoyed learning of her ancestors and compiled family history for both families. Delores liked to listen to oldtime country music and polka music, watch TV, write letters to family, and do crossword puzzles.

Delores M. Ensley died on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, at the Avoca Specialty Care in Avoca, Iowa. She had reached the age of 88 years, 7 months, and 22 days.

Delores was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wallace, on September 29, 2018; one son, Michael Ensley; and one sister, Mary Ann Bergman. She is survived by two daughters, Debra Ricklefs and Cindy Ensley, both of Avoca, Iowa; one son, Allen (Kathy) Ensley of Hollis, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Rachel (Curt) Roe, Jared Ricklefs, Destiny (B.J.) Cummins, and Jamie (Jade) Terbush; six great-grandchildren, Jayden Ricklefs, Skyler Roe, Saige Roe, Cooper Cummins, Cara Cummins, and Crew Cummins; and other relatives and friends.

The funeral service was held on Monday, March 22, 2021, at the Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa, with Pastor Jim Boardman officiating. Casket bearers were Curt Roe, Kim Buck, Jim Duncan, Rachel Roe, Jared Ricklefs, and Greg Duncan. Burial was in the Graceland Cemetery, Avoca, Iowa. The Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa, was in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be left online at www.burmeisterjohannsen.com.