Darrell Gene Mardesen

Darrell Gene, son of Vernon and Mary Grace (Pedersen) Mardesen, was born October 23, 1935 in Oakfield Township, Audubon County, Iowa. He graduated from Elk Horn High School in 1955. Darrell was baptized at St. Paul's Church in Atlantic and confirmed at Oak Hill Church. Darrell worked as a bus driver and bus barn superintendent, then headed west to the Los Angeles, CA, area for two years. He worked for Western Electric and he also served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1954-65. On September 13, 1959, Darrell was united in marriage with Sue (Lylia) Jensen at Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn, Iowa. He operated a corn sheller until 1965 when he began farming. Darrell continued farming until 2000, when he rented his land. The couple moved to Elk Horn in 2005. He enjoyed fishing, playing cards and visiting with his friends in his spare time. Darrell died suddenly and unexpectedly at Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon on Wednesday, September 1, 2010, at the age of 74 years, 10 months and 9 days. He is preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law Lyle Jensen; son-in-law Dan Hartvigsen; and brother-in-law John Jensen. Darrell is survived by his wife Sue Mardesen of Elk Horn; four children: Cindy Boyd (Tom) of Omaha, NE; Gene Mardesen (Sue) of Elk Horn; Clara Wambold (David) of Council Bluffs; and Carol Hartvigsen of Kimballton; four grandchildren: Megan and Nick Mardesen and Kyle and Paige Wambold; brother Richard Mardesen (Sara) of Elk Horn; sister Sharon Nelson (Richard) of Omaha, NE; mother-in-law Roma Jensen of Avoca; brothers-in-law Merlin Jensen (Jackie) of Avoca and Bruce Jensen (Linda) of Council Bluffs; sisters-in-law Colleen Schnepel (Gary) of Omaha and Arleen Reid (Harold) of Carlisle; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Officiating REVEREND KEITH ANDREW MENTER Music "LIFE'S RAILWAY TO HEAVEN" TOM POTTS, VOCALIST "HOW GREAT THOU ART" REV. MENTER NANCY WATSON, ACCOMPANIST Casketbearers PAIGE WAMBOLD MEGAN MARDESEN NICK MARDESEN KYLE WAMBOLD HEATH MARDESEN ADAM MARDESEN BRENT MADSEN GREG MADSEN Honorary Casketbearers DARRELL'S MANY FRIENDS & FISHING AND CARD PLAYING BUDDIES Interment ELK HORN LUTHERAN CEMETERY ELK HORN, IOWA