Florence DeLong, age 90, passed away Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2026 from 2:00-5:00 PM at the Geilenfeld-Buehner Funeral Home in Oelwein.

Florence Mae (Treptow) DeLong was born on the family farm near Westgate on February 25, 1936 to parents Edward and Hulda (Ganske) Treptow. As a young child, she, her older sister Laura, and her parents relocated to Oelwein. Florence attended Oelwein schools and graduated from Oelwein High School with the class of 1953.

On January 15, 1955 she was united in marriage with Eugene Francis “Gene” DeLong. Florence and Gene made their home in Oelwein, both working jobs and raising three sons along the way: Marc, Tracy, and Drew. In the early 1970s they decided to return the family to their rural roots and purchased farmland east of Oelwein, ultimately making a living with a farrow to finish hog operation, well known by many as the “Shady 80”.

Florence was a trailblazer in her own right. While many women did not work full-time outside the home in that era, Florence held her own in the workplace as a clerk for the Chicago Northwestern Railway and later, as a legal secretary. Florence was a breadwinner along with Gene, ensuring their farm operation continued to move forward during the 1980s farm crisis.

Although she loved her sons dearly, as they left for college, married and moved away, she and Gene decided to fulfill one of her special dreams – raising a daughter. They adopted three beautiful girls from Korea: Noelle, Holly, and Angel. They filled the Shady 80 with youth, vigor, and good times as Florence and Gene raised their “second family”. All three made the big cultural transition from their Korean homeland, without losing touch from where they came.

Another big event in Florence’s life reflected her innate desire to give back to the world beyond immediate family. In response to Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray’s public plea for support, Florence and Gene sponsored a Hmong family from Laos after the Vietnam War left thousands of refugees struggling in primitive camps, waiting to be sponsored and brought to safe places around the world. This family of seven lived in the DeLong farm basement apartment for eight months until they were adequately acclimated to their new culture and environment.

Many a DeLong family vacation was spent in Sebago resort cabins along Round Lake in northern Minnesota, fishing, swimming and relaxing amid the lakes and pine forests. This imprint on Florence’s life experience never left her. She and Gene decided to buy a Minnesota lakeshore home in their retirement after selling the farm and relocating from Oelwein. This Florence called “Up North”, where she enjoyed playing bridge with friends most weekdays and communing with nature. Nothing compared with a sunset cruise on the lake with Gene by her side listening to the loons calling in the evening air.

After their ultimate return to Oelwein in their elder years to be closer to family and old friends, Florence continued to play bridge with wit, charm, and let’s say it, a competitive spirit! Her local friends always admired these character traits. Besides bridge, Florence’s hobbies included writing with the OWLS writing group, decorating her home in the style of the northern woods, and shopping for a good deal. She rarely missed her kids’ and grandkids’ activities and her most favorite times were when family was gathered for a fish fry or potluck dinner. 

In lieu of a cemetery monument, the DeLong family has placed an inscribed memorial bench along a trail in the woods just south of Platt Park in Oelwein. The next time one walks or bikes the trail, take a moment to rest on this bench and reflect on memories of both Florence and Gene.

Left to celebrate Florence’s life are her six children and their spouses: Marc (Nancy) DeLong of Minburn, Tracy (Bobbi) DeLong of Strawberry Point, Drew (Chami) DeLong of Decorah, Holly (Ed) Baldwin of Nashua, Noelle (Brian Batterson) Coleman of Oelwein, and Angel (Joe) Knaub of Silverdale, WA; her nine grandchildren: Emily (Alex) Burns of Marion, Aaron DeLong of Denver, CO, Erika (John) Lippman of Iowa Falls, Courtney (Austin) Jackson of Cedar Falls, Haley (Ashton) Clemons of Ankeny, Autumn (Dominic) DeLong-Rodgers of St. Paul, MN, Alex Baldwin of Littleton, CO, Cameron (Emily) DeLong of Cedar Falls, and Luke Baldwin of West Des Moines; as well as her six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Gene, and siblings Elmer, Harold, Edith, Paul, Earl and Laura.

In lieu of flowers, Florence requests to be remembered with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you.