Michael Selk

Michael O. Selk, 86, of Delavan, passed away Sunday, February 19, 2023 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Michael Owen Selk was born August 19, 1936, to James Albert Selk and Delora M. (Wright) Selk in Delavan, IL and remained a lifelong resident. One brother, James Albert Selk, and his parents. preceded him in death.

Mike married Marie Meyer in Manito, IL on July 4, 1959. Michael was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Delavan and a choir member for over 50 years. He was also a member of St. Mary’s Men’s Club.

Mike leaves  behind his wife of 63 years, Marie. His daughter, Elizabeth (Mike) Linnenbrink of Donnellson, IA and Wilhelmina “Willie” Dold (Jim Moran) of Donnellson, IA ; and son, Michael (Kris) James Selk of Delavan. He also leaves behind nine grandchildren, Daniel, Katie, Matt, Lauren, Ben, Jacob, Zachary, Meredith and Nick. From those grandchildren he has been gifted with 12 great-grandchildren: Owen, Signe, Korah, Landon, Claire, Roslyn, Haizel, Dean, Kolt, Thea, Aurora, and Creed. Mike is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Mike graduated from Delavan High School in 1954. He was a great baseball player and held a batting average of .577, which was a record until 1988. He was a former member of the Army National Guard. He was a member of the School Board of Delavan schools for 15 years; he served as president for two years and served as Secretary for four years. He has been a member of the Delavan Fire Department since 1998 and was a trustee for four terms, which is a total of 24 years. In the 1970’s he owned his own business, Mike’s 66, for ten years. Mike had an amazing work ethic, and he never left a job until it was finished perfectly.  He worked in the past for Caterpillar Tractor Company, then he worked for General Scale, formerly Soweigh Scale, with his father, Ab, and learned the scale business from him. From there he went to work for Fairbanks Scale Company, and he worked there for forty years. He officially retired at 72 but continued to work parttime for them because he loved it so much.

He was an avid Cardinals fan and went to many games with his son, Michael. He loved tinkering in his shop and could fix about anything he tried. Over the years, he built a lot of items he needed for his own use, and up until his illness began in December, he was still working on updating and restoring his third old Fairbanks scale.  He loved gardening and was looking forward to getting it started again; he always had a big garden and gave a lot of it away. He loved being outside working in his “white house,” riding his motorcycle cruising the “loop” in town, and watching his garden grow. Mike was a people person and loved talking to them. Most importantly, Mike cherished his family and friends and his beloved hometown of Delavan.

A funeral mass will be at 11:00 am Saturday, February 25, 2023 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Delavan.  Father Mike Adrie will officiate.  Visitation will be from 5 to 7 pm Friday at Davis-Oswald Funeral Home in Delavan, followed by a wake service at 7:00 pm.  Additional visitation will be from 10:00 to 10:45 am Saturday at the church. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Delavan.

The family requests that any memorials in his name be made to the Delavan Fire Department or St. Mary’s Church in Delavan.

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