John M. Delich

John Delich fell asleep surrounded by loving family at home in Fairview, NC. Born of immigrant parents, the tenth of twelve children, in the tiny mining location of Kinney, MN, he forged a life that surpassed his dreams ultimately pursuing a career in the insurance industry that began with door-to-door sales and ended in the presidency of the investment offshoot of Mutual of Omaha that he was invited to form and lead.

A lover of vegetable gardening and flower tending, he planted a family of five children in a long first marriage and delighted in its expansion with his devoted wife of 36 years, Julie.

A storyteller and dialect impersonator he began entertaining up North in his teens and never stopped. Many rooms rang with laughter as listeners marveled at the accents he could imitate after years in the multi-ethnic community in which he grew up and learned life’s hardest and best lessons. These he generously shared with so many whose lives he touched: the importance of planning ahead, saving and living within one’s means, hard work, commitment to family, civic duty, service to country, respect and faith. He was an uncanny craftsman and seemed almost able to fashion something out of nothing, another set of skills he shared with others. He was proud of his heritage and was blessed to seek and find his many relatives in the former Yugoslavia, from which his parents emigrated. Their lives were ever-after entwined.

He retired to North Carolina after six decades spent in the Midwest and with Julie enjoyed spoiling visitors with their hospitality in the lovely home they planned and built together. For the next three decades he enjoyed the view of the mountains from his home, whistled with the local birds, created a small paradise on the grounds, and traveled widely. He was a dedicated, long-time member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and lent his knowledge and industry in finance and construction in service to them.

He is preceded in death by his mother (Marija) and father (Toma), brothers Dan, Nikola, Peter, Donald, Sam, Godfrey, Robert, Tom and sister Dorothy.

He is survived by wife Julie; sister Florine Casper; brother Michael Delich; children Michael Delich (Denise Holter); Kathleen Johnson (Mark); Teresa Pointer (Richard); Daniel Delich (Rebecca); Christine Davis (Sid); twelve grandchildren: Teresa Delich Williams, Justin Gill, Andrew Johnson, Caitlin Johnson Castelez, Stephanie Delich Fisher, Madeline Johnson Herrera, Joseph Delich, Scott Delich, Mary Delich Fleming, Allison Starr, John Delich, Monica Starr and ten great-grandchildren: Tristian Clendenen, Matthew Clendenen, Isabella Williams, Lila Gill, Owen Gill, Ronan Johnson, Nils Johnson, Anders Herrera, Rhys Johnson and Esten Herrera.

Memorials to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Foundation (HTGOCF), PO Box 8369, Asheville, NC 28814.