Deleanore "Del" Ione Hinze

Deleanore “Del” Hinze of Pine City passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, June 6, 2020 at the age of 90.

Deleanore Ione Nelson was born August 3, 1929 to Carl and Hazel (Segelstrom) Nelson in Grantsburg, Wisconsin.

On June 27, 1953, Del married Leonard Hinze and together they raised four children and ran a family dairy farm south of Pine City. In 2015, the farm was designated a Century Farm by the Minnesota State Agricultural Society. Del was active in the Pine City Lions, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church and worked at the Pine County Fair for 30+ years.

Del was a great cook and baker. Her kitchen resembled a small restaurant as she prepared meals for children, grandchildren and family friends. There was always a pan of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen. Christmas was a sugary delight with tins of homemade sugar cookies, spritz cookies and pinwheels. She loved animals but springer spaniels were her favorite dog. Del logged many miles walking through the woods and fields with her dogs. One of her most interesting hobbies was fledging bluebirds. She was an active participant in the North American Bluebird Society. She maintained 30-40 houses and it was not unusual for her to have 30-40 birds fledged in a year. It was amazing to see her standing in the field holding a container of meal worms and calling the bluebirds to come eat out of her hand.

Del will be greatly missed by her children Debra Hinze (Gary Crews) of Chicago, IL, Randy (Pam) Hinze of Pine City, Kevin Hinze of Pine City, Tim (Susan) Hinze of St. Paul; grandchildren Ashley Wiedemann, Nic Hinze, Bethany Hardy, Chelsea Kirchmeier, Sierra Hinze and Aurora Hinze; great-grandchildren Wheeler Wiedemann, Walker Wiedemann, Wren Wiedemann, Quinn Hinze, Lennox Hinze and Cameron Hardy; and Mya, her beloved springer spaniel.

She was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Hazel Nelson; husband Leonard Hinze; sister Delores Thovson.

A celebration of Del’s life is planned from 2-6 PM; Saturday, August 1, 2020 at the Pine County Fairgrounds Event Center.

Many thanks to the caring staff at Fairview Hospice and a special thanks to her caregiver Karla Miller for their assistance in caring for Del in the last year.

Memorials in Del’s honor may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to: Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City ~ Swanson Chapel.
www.FuneralAndCremationService.com