Obituaries & Guestbook

Oconto – We are sad to announce the death of our mother, Betty Delzer Sosinske, 81, on Friday, December 4, 2020 at her home at Emerald Bay Assisted Living in Hobart, WI.  She was born August 15, 1939 to Harold and Irene (Van Ess) Wilson. On July 12, 1958 she married Hugo Delzer Jr. and they were married for 43 years until his death in 2001.  Their marriage was an example of true love and devotion and we were witnesses to that as they were often holding hands and showing affection to each other.   They were strong Christian role models to all of us children, and we aspire to follow their life lessons to this day.  Mom had more love to give and was blessed again in finding Wes Sosinske, a longtime friend of Mom and Dad when they traveled to Texas.  On June 17, 2006, Mom remarried and was married the last 14 years.  What a blessing Wes has been to Mom and our family.  This year we have been isolated for too long, but knowing the love Wes had for her and the wonderful, gentle care he provided up until the end, we are forever grateful to him.

Mom was a child care provider for over 20 years until her and Dad retired in 1991.  In both of her marriages, they enjoyed being snowbirds, living at Holtwood Park in Oconto during the summer months and Florida, Arizona or Texas in the winter months.  Dancing and bike riding were just a couple of her favorite things she enjoyed doing with her loved ones.

Betty is survived by her husband, Wes Sosinske, Hobart; four of her five children, Donna (Howard) Messenger, Oconto, Scott (Denise) Delzer, Appleton, Dan (Ann) Delzer, Sarasota, FL, and Lynn (Tim) Carpenter, Hobart.  Betty was given the gift of 9 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, Jessica, Mirkella and Macy Foth;  Miranda, Noah, Joselyn, Allison and Alivia Abbott; Kyle, Seth, Isabelle and Hugo Messenger;  Mindy, Lilly, Hazel & Finn Paszek; Wayne Delzer; Daniel and Matthew Delzer; Jenna and Cameron Carpenter.  Through her second marriage she was blessed to have four step children, Jerome (Brenda) Sosinske, Janet Sosinske, Julie (Mark) Arndorfer, and Jim (Natalie) Sosinske.   Four step grandchildren and three step great grandchildren.

Betty was proceeded in death by her parents, first husband, Hugo Delzer Jr., and her son Wayne Delzer.

During this time after Betty’s death, we want to encourage others to remember and celebrate her life and how her life has shaped ours. What makes losing someone so hard is because they were so much a part of our lives and have shaped our lives in many ways.

We also want to be reminded of the reality of death in this world and that one day each of us will die. Prior to the death of our father, Hugo Delzer Jr. in 2001, he requested that we create a sign along the highway next to their house. It was a sign that said “Where Will You Spend Eternity?”

Hugo had this sign created because he cared about where people would spend eternity after they died. Hugo knew the Bible said that there is a place where people are punished for their sins they committed against a good God and that there is a place where sin doesn’t exist and where there is joy, peace, and the fullness of relationship with God forever.

God also cares very much where people spend eternity. How can we be sure? We know because God sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to live the sinless life we have failed to live and to die on a cross. While on the cross Jesus wasn’t just suffering from the prior beatings, mockings, and the nails that have pierced him. Even more, Jesus was carrying the sins of others in His body on the cross and God the Father punished His only Son for the sins of others. Jesus willingly took the punishment for the sins of His enemies! After Jesus died on the cross, He was raised from the dead. This is the basic good news of Jesus Christ and it is the only hope in this life and after death.

If God believed that people could be good enough to earn His love and forgiveness then God would not have sent His only Son to die needlessly. God sent His only Son because He knew all people have sinned and there are no good people. God did this so that anyone who would turn from their sins (repentance) and put all their hope and confidence (faith) in what Jesus accomplished in his life, death, and resurrection would no longer be an enemy of God but would have peace and a relationship with God now and for all eternity.

Where will you spend eternity? To help answer that question, we encourage you to ask yourself these questions. Have you repented of your sins and put your trust in what Jesus Christ has done? Do you treasure what God has done in sending His only Son?  Do you look forward to heaven mainly because there will be no pain and sickness there or do you look forward to heaven mainly because sin and the temptation to sin are not in heaven and because you want an even closer relationship with God in heaven forever?

We are comforted in knowing that in Christ there are no goodbyes.

A special thank you to Emerald Bay and Heartland Hospice for the special care that they provided mom when we could not be there.

Due to current COVID concerns, private viewing will be taking place prior to cremation. When circumstances allow for the public to attend, funeral services and burial next to her first husband Hugo will take place.