(Above) Bill Fritcher (left), superintendant of Teutopolis Unit #50 and Greg Beck (center), principal of Teutopolis High School, were honored to meet Mr. Facklam (right). They thanked him for his generous support of Teutopolis High School students and complimented him on his desire to give back to his community.
Mr. Delbert Facklam was an honored visitor at Teutopolis High School, Monday, November 22, 2010. He traveled from his home in Ukiah, California to visit friends and the high school he attended his senior year. Mr. Facklam is well known by the Teutopolis High School faculty members, students, and administration for his generosity in supporting education through his Delbert E. Facklam and Marydyl T. Hughes Facklam Scholarship. He created the scholarship in memory of the Teutopolis High School faculty and the classmates of the graduating class of 1939.
Since 2005, seven THS seniors have benefited from his charitable gifts. He has contributed over $4600 to the advancement of students’ education. Recipients of his scholarships are THS students: 2005 – Renee Habing, 2006 – Allison Hotze, 2007 – Katie Sudkamp and Dillon Wallin, 2008 – Michael Henry, 2009 – Beth Kreke and 2010 – Jennifer Vogt.
Mr. Facklam was born in Stewardson, Illinois. He moved to Sigel, Illinois in his teens and attended St. Michael’s School until his senior year. He served his senior year at Teutopolis High School where he graduated in 1939. Following graduation Mr. Falkam enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He spent twenty years serving our country and was decorated with six gold stripes for his service. His initial ambition was to be a Navy pilot. He was assigned to duties in the fire house while waiting for his opportunity to fly. The day he witnessed a plane flipping over on a soldier was the same day he lost his desire to be a pilot.
Mr. Facklam delightfully discussed his past ventures. He shared that he was the first bus driver for Teutopolis High School. He drove a 1930 Cheve bus carrying six students on his route. “Each student paid me a nickel,” he said. Mr. Facklam spent a large portion of his career as the Postmaster in Redwood Valley, California. He served the public in that capacity for 22 years.
Delbert married Marydyl on December 18, 1942 at the age of 21. He claims that they never fought a day in their life together. They were married 64 years.
In addition to the Teutopolis High School scholarship fund, the Facklam’s established four other designated funds at the Effingham County Community Foundation to provide support for: Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Shumway; St. Paul’s Cemetery and St. Michael’s Parish, Sigel; and Stewardson Cemetery, Stewardson.
