Delores Jean Kalena

Delores J. “Dee” Kalena, 93, of Evansville Indiana peacefully passed away surrounded by family on Wednesday, October 14th, 2026. She was born November 6th, 1932, in Boonville Indiana to Joseph and Ethel (McKinney) Schaber.

She was a 1950 graduate of Boonville High School and a 1954 graduate of Evansville College (now the University of Evansville). After working early in her career at WEHT, she spent more than 30 years at the University of Evansville and retired from UE as Executive Assistant to the President and Director of University Relations. She served on the Boards of Directors for the Harlaxton Society, Samuel Johnson Society, UE Friends of Art, Raintree Girl Scout Council, Buffalo Boy Scout Council, Southwestern Indiana Historical Society, Freedom Festival, Evansville Dance Theatre, New Harmony Education Consortium, and Rotary. She was the recipient of Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellow Award and a 1993 Athena Award Nominee.

After retirement, Dee and her beloved husband, Bernie, traveled extensively throughout the United States and abroad while serving as tour directors for several travel agencies in Evansville, Illinois, and Missouri.

Surviving Dee are her sister Diane (Schaber) Nicholson, daughter Kay (David) Hoffherr, two grandchildren, Jonathan (Kayla) Hoffherr, and Benjamin (Megan) Hoffherr, five great grandchildren: Bennett, Evan, Adelyn, Jackson, and Oscar, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by Bernard Kalena, her devoted husband of nearly 70 years, and her sister Dorothy (Schaber) Stephens.

Private services will be held.