CSM Joseph Delaney
CSM Joseph Leo Delaney of Choctaw, OK, age 88, passed away July 11, 2025 at the Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. Services were held July 18 at St. Teresa of Avila in Harrah, OK with Father Carson Krittenbrink officiating. Interment followed at Arlington Memory Gardens with military honors.
Joseph was born May 4, 1937 in Harpers Ferry. He was the son of John Joseph Delaney and Cecilia (Conway) Delaney. Joseph graduated from Harpers Ferry High School in 1955. He married Hannelore Walter November 4, 1958.
Joseph joined the U.S. Army September 13, 1955 and retired July 31, 1979 as a Command Sergeant. He was with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and served for 24 years with two tours in Vietnam. He was a very proud veteran supporting many veteran organizations.
During his years of service he received the Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star (three awards), Army Commendation Medal (three awards), Good Conduct Award, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. After his retirement from the service, he worked at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City.
Joseph had a love for cars and worked on many of them. He also loved hunting and fishing. He enjoyed woodworking and was very good at it. He loved his family and made many trips to Harpers Ferry, Oswego, IL and Texas to visit them.
Joseph is preceded in death by his wife, Hannelore Delaney (51 years of marriage); his parents, John and Cecilia Delaney; his son, Helmut Delaney; his brothers, Aelred, Lester, John, Mark and Martin; his sister, Myrtle Egan; his sisters-in-law, Dorothea, Mary, Margaret, Helen and Aileen Delaney; and his brother-in-law, John Egan.
He is survived by his two daughters, Susan Reed of Oklahoma City and Joann (Lyle) Sharp of Poolville, TX; one brother, Pat Delaney of Lansing; and one sister, Delores (Bob) Mooney of Oswego, IL. He also has eight grandchildren, Michael, Bobby, Daniel, Karol, Joseph (Joey), Mathew, Kristina and Deanna; two great-grandchildren, Kennedy and Jamad Jr.; and many nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers were Daniel Ingram, Mathew Ingram, Joseph Reed, Lyle Sharp, Hunter Smith and Joe Egan.
