Delores Smull Teale

September 19, 1942 — January 21, 2018

Delores “Dee” Smull Teale, 75, of Onalaska, passed away on Sunday, January 21, 2018, at the home of her daughter in Blair, Wis.
She was born in Davenport, Iowa, on September 19, 1942, to Emory Jennings Smull and Catherin Marie Louise Prachar. She later graduated from Davenport Central High School. After attending Northern Iowa University for two years, Delores married Delton Burnside. They lived in Texas and Florida while Delton served in the U.S. Air Force before moving back to Davenport and then to La Crosse. They would later divorce.
In 1977, Delores married James Teale. For ten years, they served as house parents for troubled teens in Platteville, Wis. They moved to La Crosse and were hired as treatment foster parents, primarily working with teenage boys. During this time, Delores furthered her education, receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Education/Secondary level and her Master of Science in Education/Learning Disabilities and Emotional Disorders from U.W.-La Crosse.
Delores worked in different capacities with several area school districts from 1986 to 1992, including La Crosse, Onalaska, Holmen, West Salem and Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau. She also served as Division Director-Residential Services at the Family and Children’s Center in La Crosse from 1992 to 1999 and as Executive Director at Taylor Home, Inc. in Racine from 2000 to 2006.
In her free time, Delores enjoyed gardening, photography, and researching her family history. She also enjoyed attending family gatherings and never missed any of her grandchildren’s extracurricular events.
Delores is survived by daughters, Dana (Jeff) Eide of Blair, Wis. and Debra Hunsaker, living in Arizona; step-children, Cindy Teale of Onalaska, Debbie (Bill) Barr of Onalaska, Rob (Renae) Teale of Holmen and Jamie (Carol) Teale of La Crescent; thirteen grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. She is further survived by a number of foster children; a brother, George (Arlene) Smull, living in California; a sister-in-law, Janet Boharsik of Onalaska; and other extended family. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Teale, in 1998; her parents; a grandson, Tim Dienger; and two sisters, Patricia King and Carol Smull.
A memorial service celebrating Delores’ life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 26th, at First Lutheran Church, 410 Main St., Onalaska. Rev. Karyn Bodenschatz will officiate. Burial will take place in Onalaska City Cemetery. Family and friends may call from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m., Thursday, at the church and again on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Memorials may be given to First Lutheran Church Foundation Endowment Fund.
Delores has been described as caring, loving, supportive, fun filled, adventurous, inspiring, and always on the go. She touched many lives and will be greatly missed.

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Service Schedule

Past Services

Memorial Gathering

Thursday, January 25, 2018

4:00 - 8:00 am

First Lutheran Church

410 Main Street, Onalaska, WI 54650

Get Directions Plant Trees

Memorial Service

Friday, January 26, 2018

Starts at 11:00 am