Tony Delventhal

Dr. Tony Delventhal was born November 5, 1895, and died April 15, 1972, at the age of 76. He was a native of Napoleon, Ohio, and a 1915 gradu, ate of Napoleon High School. He attended Defiance College and the University of Michigan and was graduated in 1921 from Eclectic Medical College in Cincinnati, Ohio. He received army training in college. After graduating he was county health officer of Henry County. He resigned this position and married Flora DeKay of Defiance, Ohio, on September 6, 1922. They moved to Ridgeville Corners, Ohio, where he took up the practice of medicine. They had two sons, Kenneth W., born in Ridgeville on March 16, 1926, and Jack M., born in Napoleon September 20, 1928. He moved to Napoleon in 1927. In 1934 he took a three month post-graduate course at Cook County Hospital in Chicago.

Dr. Tony and Flora Delventhal

Dr. Delventhal served as a member of the Napoleon Planning Commission and city school board. He also was chief of staff at Heller Memorial Hospital until retiring in 1968.

He was a member of Emanuel Lutheran Church, Napoleon Elks Club, Taylor Post American Legion, and county, state, and national medical associations. He was named Napoleon's Citizen of the Year in 1970. He wanted to be known as "a country doctor." In some families he delivered two and three generations. It pleased him when people stopped him on the street and reminded him "You brought me into the world."

William Delventhal was born in Hanover, Germany, on September 28, 1862, and died April 28, 1929, in Napoleon, Ohio. He came to America in 1882, leaving three brothers and two sisters in Germany. The brothers were Henry, Harmon, and Frederick; the sisters were Catherine and Anna. In time they all came to America.

He was an expert clarinet player and traveled with the Murray and Murphy Comedy Company. He returned to Napoleon and married Freda Borstelman, daughter of Peter and Marie Borstelman. She was born in 1873 and died in 1958. He engaged in the retail liquor business in partnership with his brother Henry, but in 1897 they dissolved partnership.

In politics Mr. Delventhal was a Democrat, and in April, 1903, he was elected trustee of participation in matters musical, playing in bands and orchestras in Napoleon Township for the term of three years. He was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church and a trustee of that congregation.

Mr. and Mrs. Delventhal had three sons and one daughter: Henry, Tony, Raymond, and daughter Manilla. Henry died in 1961 at the age of 70 and Tony died in 1972 at the age of 76.

Submitted by: Flora Delventhal