Carpenter, Darrell John

Darrell John Carpenter entered into his eternal rest on Friday, Sept. 27, 2013, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City following a fall at his home. He was 74 years of age.

He was born July 14, 1939, on the family Heritage Farm near Coggon, Iowa, the son of John and Inez Waterhouse Carpenter. After attending the grade school, he graduated with the high school class of 1958 from Troy Mills Consolidated Schools.

Darrell was united in marriage to Shirley Thompson on July 11, 1966, at the Congregational Church in Winthrop. To this union were born two sons, John and Darin.

Darrell was a lifelong farmer living on a Heritage farm in the Coggon area and raising beef cattle. Recently he and Shirley moved to an apartment in Troy Mills.

He enjoyed all kinds of sports, including football, wrestling, basketball and baseball, as well as WWF wrestling. He was a faithful fan of the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Braves and the University of Iowa teams.

His most proud moments were watching his grandchildren's sporting events and traveled many miles to see them. Always wearing a smile on his face, he liked talking with others.

He was a member of Hoover Wesleyan Methodist Church, rural Walker.

Preceding him in death were his parents and an infant sister, Linda Lou.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley of Troy Mills; his two sons, John (Lisa) Carpenter of Winthrop and Darin (Shelly) Carpenter of Rowley; seven grandchildren, Tessa Larson, Jordan Carpenter, Brooklyn Carpenter, Michael Carpenter, Cheyenne and Sheldon Syhlman and Katelynn Hovey; a great-granddaughter, Nevaeh Larson; his sister, Janet (Donald) Main of Coggon; and other relatives and friends.

A Celebration of Life service will be 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30, at Hoover Wesleyan Methodist Church near Walker, with Pastor Charles Clark officiating. Music will be provided by Connie Clark and Wanda Deemer. Friends may call from 1 until 4 p.m. Sunday at Fawcett Funeral Home in Winthrop and one hour before the service at the church on Monday. Inurnment will take place at a later date in Circle Grove Cemetery next to the Hoover Church. Casketbearers will be Jordan Carpenter, Michael Carpenter, Michael Ellis, Nick Gudenkauf, Don Gudenkauf and Eric Main. Honorary bearers will be Jack Bach, Jerry Grishaver, Ray Cook, and Carl Zeller.

The Fawcett Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting the family with arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent at under obituaries.

Published Sept. 29, 2013 in The Gazette