Darrell Dean Essen

Darrell Dean Essen, 68, of Lander, Wyoming, formerly of Waterloo, Iowa, died June 16 at the Wyoming Medical Center, Casper, Wyoming after a brief illness.

A Memorial Service will be held in the First United Methodist Church of Lander 10:30a, June 7, 2010. A Memorial Service was also held in Waterloo, Iowa with Military Honors being given by the Waterloo & Evansdale AMVETS Post 19 & 31.

Darrell was born January 18, 1942 in Iowa City, Iowa son of Darrell Joseph and Arlene Bleeker Essen. He grew up in Grundy Center, Iowa and graduated from Grundy Center High School. He served in the US Navy with the Seabees battalion from 1961 -1964. During his duty, he wintered over in Antarctica keeping the airstrip open for the scientists working there. He also served at the onset of the Viet Nam conflict. He was employed with John Deere in Waterloo and worked most of his 33 years as a machine maintenance mechanic. He retired in 1998. He later worked for the Cedar Falls Parks Department for 4 years.

He married Cheryl "Sheri" Eiffler in December 19, 1969 in Morrison, Illinois. Darrell and Sheri had just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.

He loved gardening and playing with his grandchildren. He also liked hunting, fishing, refinishing furniture and antiques. After living in Waterloo for 36 years, Darrell and Sheri moved to Lander, Wyoming where he did more fishing and driving his jeep in the mountains.

He is survived by his wife Sheri; two sons, Darrell, Jr. of Oxnard, CA, Troy (Dawn) of Waterloo, IA; two daughters, Tessia Mathes of Hastings, NE, and Heidi (Mike) Ewing of Moline, IL; seven grandchildren Derek, Sarah, Brittany, Brandi, Nathan, Justine, and Kallypso; one great granddaughter, Jade; his mother, Arlene of Grundy Center, IA; two sisters, Judy (Herb) Wilson of Marshalltown, IA and Janet (Don) Dixon of Cedar Falls, IA.

He was preceded in death by his father, Darrell and granddaughter, Melissa Mathes.