Businessman avoided spotlight in generosity

Most Bartholomew County residents will never know how much a retired businessman had done for his community.

But that’s fine, because Ken DeLap always preferred to avoid the spotlight.

That’s what former Columbus Mayor Fred Armstrong said after learning that DeLap, who headed what had been one of Indiana’s largest civil engineering consulting firms, died Friday at the age of 90.

“Ken was just a gentleman and a giver,” Armstrong said. “I think Heaven just gained, and we lost.”

DeLap, a U.S. Navy veteran, was president and majority stockholder of Southern Indiana Engineering Company, Inc., which he helped co-found in 1953, one year after graduating from college.

Later named SIECO Inc., the firm was employing more than 80 people in Columbus until it was acquired by Strand Associates in 2002.

But business success was not what was most important to DeLap, said Rick Johnson, DeLap’s son-in-law and president of Johnson Ventures, Inc.

Those who truly knew him will likely agree that DeLap’s greatest legacy was his friendship, Johnson said.

“He was probably the friendliest guy anyone will ever know,” Johnson said. “One of his main goal in life is that the people around him are happy.”

Generosity and compassion were demonstrated by DeLap in a variety of ways, Armstrong said. On a small scale, he was known to happily surprise others by bringing an entire meal to a city-sponsored meeting or employee gathering, said Armstrong, who was mayor from 1996 to 2011.

And if DeLap received word that an individual or family was going through a difficult time at the end of the year, DeLap would make sure that person or family had a quality Christmas, Armstrong said.

But few know about DeLap’s larger acts of kindness, such as when he volunteered to design a system that brought quality drinking water to a small town in Mexico for the first time, Armstrong said.

“I think he recognized special qualities in people,” Johnson said. “He went out of his way to support and encourage them.”

In 2005, DeLap became a volunteer for Our Hospice of South Central Indiana. After his first wife, Phyllis, died in 2013 while under Hospice care, he remained one of the organization’s leading volunteers for another two years, retired Hospice president Sandy Carmichael said.

“I have never met a more kind, generous and helpful man in my life,” Carmichael said.

While many patients knew him as a devoted supporter, Carmichael recalled how she and her staff would enjoy whenever DeLap dropped by the office for just a chat. If those visits took place near Christmas or Valentines Day, he would bring an oversized box of chocolates for everyone to enjoy, Carmichael said.

Although generous with time and money, Carmichael agreed with Armstrong that DeLap did not want anyone to draw attention to his acts of kindness.

“He made it clear to me several times he did not want a lot of publicity,” Carmichael said.

Since the Lutheran faith stresses salvation by grace and not by works of the deceased, eulogies during funeral services are generally avoided — which will also be the case during Friday’s memorial service for DeLap at First Lutheran Church.

But Johnson said if anyone in Columbus has ever led a life that deserves to be celebrated, it’s Ken DeLap.

Those who share similar feelings are encouraged to attend Thursday evening’s visitation at Myers-Reed Funeral Home.

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Visitation for Kenneth L. DeLap will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Myers-Reed Funeral Home, 3729 E. 25th St., Columbus.

The 11 a.m. Friday memorial service will take place at First Lutheran Church, 3600 E. 25th St., Columbus.  Friends may call at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.

Inurnment will be held at Garland Brook Cemetery immediately following the funeral service.    

DeLap is survived by his second wife, Melinda; children, Ken DeLap II of Waymansville, Ann Gaff (Nate) of Bloomfield, Iowa, John (Tracy) DeLap of Columbus and Alice Johnson (Rick) of Columbus, along with other family members.

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