Longtime Milwaukee attorney Delbert Wile of Wauwatosa died Dec. 12 of renal cancer. He was 83.
Born in New York City, he grew up in Milwaukee, graduating from Riverside High School in 1936. He continued his studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he received his undergraduate degree in economics in 1939 and his law degree in 1941.
Moreover, he was president of the Hillel Foundation on campus.
According to his family, he enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II, but refused to fire a weapon, and was assigned to work with military personnel who were being discharged from active duty. He served from 1944-46.
He was an attorney for the Veterans Administration and a member of the Wisconsin Bar Association. A lifelong supporter of the Democratic Party, he was an early opponent of Sen. Joseph McCarthy.
A strong Zionist, he was a founding member of Congregation Shalom, but later returned to Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun, where he grew up.
He enjoyed politics, law, economics, literature and art, traveling and attending theater with his late wife, Shirley Wile, who died in 2000. Also, they enjoyed good wine and good food.
His family added, “The couple pursued so many activities together that friends often referred to them as ‘Shirley and Del’ as one word.”
In his retirement, he audited many classes in literature at UW-Milwaukee and participated in a book club.
Survivors include daughter Suzanne Wile of Milwaukee; son Douglas Wile of Wappingers Falls, N.Y.; and three grandchildren.
Rabbi Marc Berkson officiated at the funeral on Dec. 14. Burial was in Spring Hill Cemetery.
Memorials to St. Luke’s Immunotherapy Program or St. Mary’s Hospice were suggested by the family.
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