Darrell L. Harris, age 82, of Des Moines, formerly of Ridgeport, Iowa died Saturday, January 18, 2020 at Valley View Village in Des Moines, Iowa.
Memorial service will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at 6th and Marshall in Boone, Iowa. Friends and family are welcome to attend a visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Mineral Ridge Cemetery near Ridgeport, Iowa.
Born November 6, 1937 in Boone County, Iowa, the son of Arthur and Alice (Bennett) Harris, Darrell was raised on a farm in Boone County, Iowa. Growing up, Darrell learned a love of collecting antiques and restoring old cars. After graduating from Boone High School, he was united in marriage with Gayle Chelsvig on September 1, 1957 in Story City, Iowa. Darrell and Gayle began their married life in Ridgeport, Iowa, lived in various towns, cities, and farms around Iowa and Illinois, then in the 1970’s moved to Des Moines, Iowa where they lived until their deaths. Their union produced three children, two girls and one boy.
Darrell was a proud member of the Iowa National Guard where he worked as a cook. He became a Manager at Erickson Holiday Gas Station beginning in Ames, Iowa, then was transferred to other stations in Iowa and Illinois that needed his expertise in handling personnel issues. After health complications prevented him from working a daily job he focused on his passion of sales, becoming a dealer of collectibles, specifically antique auto parts, which he sold at flea markets. His favorite flea market was in Hershey, Pennsylvania where he and his friends would go make sales annually.
Darrell loved collecting things too. He would always say, “Life isn't worth living unless you are collecting something,” and he lived by that. He collected Ford Model A roadsters, Whizzer motorbikes/accessories, antique auto parts/accessories (gearshift knobs, steering wheel "necker" knobs, car club plates, hood ornaments, Ford tools, and tire pumps) and he absolutely loved dice. When he was not tinkering with his collectibles, you could find him listening to country classics on Willy’s Roadhouse, reading western paperbacks, or sitting on his front porch watching people drive by.
Darrell is survived by his children, Laurie (Rick) Fontana of Des Moines, Iowa, Lanny (Ruth) Harris of Lexington, Kentucky, and Lois Harris of Ames, Iowa; grandchildren, Angela (Mark Scheuermann) Fontana, Amanda (Craig) Beveridge, Andrea (Aaron) Daleske, Alastor (Alaula) Arbor, Anna (Jay) Bishop, Adam (Michaela) Hofer, and Megan Hofer; 11 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Doran Harris; and his wife, Gayle (Chelsvig) Harris.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel and online condolences may be left to Darrell’s family at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.
Memorial service will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at 6th and Marshall in Boone, Iowa. Friends and family are welcome to attend a visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Mineral Ridge Cemetery near Ridgeport, Iowa.
Born November 6, 1937 in Boone County, Iowa, the son of Arthur and Alice (Bennett) Harris, Darrell was raised on a farm in Boone County, Iowa. Growing up, Darrell learned a love of collecting antiques and restoring old cars. After graduating from Boone High School, he was united in marriage with Gayle Chelsvig on September 1, 1957 in Story City, Iowa. Darrell and Gayle began their married life in Ridgeport, Iowa, lived in various towns, cities, and farms around Iowa and Illinois, then in the 1970’s moved to Des Moines, Iowa where they lived until their deaths. Their union produced three children, two girls and one boy.
Darrell was a proud member of the Iowa National Guard where he worked as a cook. He became a Manager at Erickson Holiday Gas Station beginning in Ames, Iowa, then was transferred to other stations in Iowa and Illinois that needed his expertise in handling personnel issues. After health complications prevented him from working a daily job he focused on his passion of sales, becoming a dealer of collectibles, specifically antique auto parts, which he sold at flea markets. His favorite flea market was in Hershey, Pennsylvania where he and his friends would go make sales annually.
Darrell loved collecting things too. He would always say, “Life isn't worth living unless you are collecting something,” and he lived by that. He collected Ford Model A roadsters, Whizzer motorbikes/accessories, antique auto parts/accessories (gearshift knobs, steering wheel "necker" knobs, car club plates, hood ornaments, Ford tools, and tire pumps) and he absolutely loved dice. When he was not tinkering with his collectibles, you could find him listening to country classics on Willy’s Roadhouse, reading western paperbacks, or sitting on his front porch watching people drive by.
Darrell is survived by his children, Laurie (Rick) Fontana of Des Moines, Iowa, Lanny (Ruth) Harris of Lexington, Kentucky, and Lois Harris of Ames, Iowa; grandchildren, Angela (Mark Scheuermann) Fontana, Amanda (Craig) Beveridge, Andrea (Aaron) Daleske, Alastor (Alaula) Arbor, Anna (Jay) Bishop, Adam (Michaela) Hofer, and Megan Hofer; 11 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Doran Harris; and his wife, Gayle (Chelsvig) Harris.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel and online condolences may be left to Darrell’s family at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.
Darrell L. Harris, age 82, of Des Moines, formerly of Ridgeport, Iowa died Saturday, January 18, 2020 at Valley View Village in Des Moines, Iowa.
Memorial service will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at 6th and Marshall in Boone, Iowa. Friends and family are welcome to attend a visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Mineral Ridge Cemetery near Ridgeport, Iowa.
Born November 6, 1937 in Boone County, Iowa, the son of Arthur and Alice (Bennett) Harris, Darrell was raised on a farm in Boone County, Iowa. Growing up, Darrell learned a love of collecting antiques and restoring old cars. After graduating from Boone High School, he was united in marriage with Gayle Chelsvig on September 1, 1957 in Story City, Iowa. Darrell and Gayle began their married life in Ridgeport, Iowa, lived in various towns, cities, and farms around Iowa and Illinois, then in the 1970’s moved to Des Moines, Iowa where they lived until their deaths. Their union produced three children, two girls and one boy.
Darrell was a proud member of the Iowa National Guard where he worked as a cook. He became a Manager at Erickson Holiday Gas Station beginning in Ames, Iowa, then was transferred to other stations in Iowa and Illinois that needed his expertise in handling personnel issues. After health complications prevented him from working a daily job he focused on his passion of sales, becoming a dealer of collectibles, specifically antique auto parts, which he sold at flea markets. His favorite flea market was in Hershey, Pennsylvania where he and his friends would go make sales annually.
Darrell loved collecting things too. He would always say, “Life isn't worth living unless you are collecting something,” and he lived by that. He collected Ford Model A roadsters, Whizzer motorbikes/accessories, antique auto parts/accessories (gearshift knobs, steering wheel "necker" knobs, car club plates, hood ornaments, Ford tools, and tire pumps) and he absolutely loved dice. When he was not tinkering with his collectibles, you could find him listening to country classics on Willy’s Roadhouse, reading western paperbacks, or sitting on his front porch watching people drive by.
Darrell is survived by his children, Laurie (Rick) Fontana of Des Moines, Iowa, Lanny (Ruth) Harris of Lexington, Kentucky, and Lois Harris of Ames, Iowa; grandchildren, Angela (Mark Scheuermann) Fontana, Amanda (Craig) Beveridge, Andrea (Aaron) Daleske, Alastor (Alaula) Arbor, Anna (Jay) Bishop, Adam (Michaela) Hofer, and Megan Hofer; 11 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Doran Harris; and his wife, Gayle (Chelsvig) Harris.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel and online condolences may be left to Darrell’s family at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.
Memorial service will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at 6th and Marshall in Boone, Iowa. Friends and family are welcome to attend a visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Mineral Ridge Cemetery near Ridgeport, Iowa.
Born November 6, 1937 in Boone County, Iowa, the son of Arthur and Alice (Bennett) Harris, Darrell was raised on a farm in Boone County, Iowa. Growing up, Darrell learned a love of collecting antiques and restoring old cars. After graduating from Boone High School, he was united in marriage with Gayle Chelsvig on September 1, 1957 in Story City, Iowa. Darrell and Gayle began their married life in Ridgeport, Iowa, lived in various towns, cities, and farms around Iowa and Illinois, then in the 1970’s moved to Des Moines, Iowa where they lived until their deaths. Their union produced three children, two girls and one boy.
Darrell was a proud member of the Iowa National Guard where he worked as a cook. He became a Manager at Erickson Holiday Gas Station beginning in Ames, Iowa, then was transferred to other stations in Iowa and Illinois that needed his expertise in handling personnel issues. After health complications prevented him from working a daily job he focused on his passion of sales, becoming a dealer of collectibles, specifically antique auto parts, which he sold at flea markets. His favorite flea market was in Hershey, Pennsylvania where he and his friends would go make sales annually.
Darrell loved collecting things too. He would always say, “Life isn't worth living unless you are collecting something,” and he lived by that. He collected Ford Model A roadsters, Whizzer motorbikes/accessories, antique auto parts/accessories (gearshift knobs, steering wheel "necker" knobs, car club plates, hood ornaments, Ford tools, and tire pumps) and he absolutely loved dice. When he was not tinkering with his collectibles, you could find him listening to country classics on Willy’s Roadhouse, reading western paperbacks, or sitting on his front porch watching people drive by.
Darrell is survived by his children, Laurie (Rick) Fontana of Des Moines, Iowa, Lanny (Ruth) Harris of Lexington, Kentucky, and Lois Harris of Ames, Iowa; grandchildren, Angela (Mark Scheuermann) Fontana, Amanda (Craig) Beveridge, Andrea (Aaron) Daleske, Alastor (Alaula) Arbor, Anna (Jay) Bishop, Adam (Michaela) Hofer, and Megan Hofer; 11 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Doran Harris; and his wife, Gayle (Chelsvig) Harris.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel and online condolences may be left to Darrell’s family at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.
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