Delores Gleckler, of Salem Illinois, passed away on Tuesday November 18, 2025.
Born Delores Jean Henson on July 2, 1937 in Marion, IL, the daughter of Loren “Knub” and Georgia Lee (White) Henson.
She attended school in Marion IL and college at SIU-Carbondale. Delores moved to Salem, IL with her husband Donald DeMaris and had two sons David and Dana DeMaris. After her husband’s death, she married Charlie Holthaus and became a mother to son C.J. Holthaus. She married Dave Gleckler in 1980.
Apart from her responsibilities as a home maker and mother she was active in the Salem Little Theatre and Centralia cultural society, a founding member of the Salem sportsman’s club, She wrote a column “The Chatterbox” for the Salem Times Commoner. When her children were grown, she worked for many years for Kaskaskia college with The Reading Link, a literacy organization, and was involved with the Salem Friends of the Library organization. She attended the Grace Methodist Church and sang in the choir. She loved to read; fiction, history, biographies almost anything. She enjoyed traveling to places with family including New Orleans, Florida, Vermont, Paris, London, New York, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mexico, Japan, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Texas, Arizona and New Mexico.
Her sons grew up to be involved in science, engineering, music, theater, and are grateful to her for making a home where art, books, records, and musical instruments were available, and animals were part of the family. From her we learned to work all the roles in a household and take care of each other.
We are grateful to the caregivers at Salem Memorial Hospital, Good Samaritan in Mt. Vernon, and Centralia Manor, and her private nurse Sherri Ellsworth.
Delores was preceded in death by her parents and brother Lowell “Bud” Henson.
Delores is survived by her husband David Gleckler, son David DeMaris (Brenda Adrian) of Austin TX, son Dana (Pam) DeMaris of Centralia IL, son C.J.(Katrina) Holthaus of Round Rock TX, stepson Matt (Michelle) Gleckler of Mt Vernon IL, sibling Ron Henson of Freeport IL, Sister n law Jan Henson of Marion IL, nephews and nieces: Quinn Henson, Melody Henson, Doug Corzine, Cris Corzine-McCloskey, Derek Henson
Delores also leaves behind to cherish her memory, Grandchildren- Serra Holthaus, Daniel DeMaris, Jessica DeMaris, and Logan Holthaus.
A visitation to celebrate her life will be held Sunday Nov. 23rd 2025 from 4-6 pm at Crouse Funeral Home in Salem IL. A service will be held at Crouse Funeral Home on Monday Nov 24th at 10:30 am. Burial will follow at East Lawn Cemetery in Salem. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s association and can be received at Crouse Funeral Home. Online condolences can be left at www.CrouseFH.com