LONE TREE, Colo. — Darrell E. Merten passed away on Sept. 18, 2018, in Centennial from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. He was surround by his children and wife. Darrell was born in Great Bend, Kan., on Jan. 29, 1933, to parents Arthur and Dorothy Merten. He graduated from Great Bend High School in May, 1951 and immediately joined the Navy. He was a proud Navy Veteran who served on the USS Ulvert M. Moore (destroyer escort) during the Korean War conflict.

He is survived by his wife Donna of Lone Tree, Colo., whom he married in Aurora, Colo., on March 21, 1981. They spent many years traveling and enjoying life.

He is preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Wilda M White (Oct. 26, 1979) whom he married on Jan. 2, 1955, in Great Bend, Kan. They had three children, Becky (Rex) Horne of Centennial, Colo., Judy (Kevin) McCarthy of Omaha, Neb., and Craig (Tami) Merten of Parker, Colo. He delighted in his nine grandchildren, Justin (Jenni) McCarthy, Kyle (Michelle) McCarthy, Sean (Wendy) McCarthy, Ryan (Katie) Horne, Riley Horne, Chad (Julia) Merten, Drew Merten, Nicholas Merten, Grace Merten and seven great-grandchildren, Connor and Ayden McCarthy, Camden, Delaney and Leighton McCarthy and Rory and Colton Horne. Darrell is also survived by one brother, Dr. Robert L. Merten of Walla Walla, Wash.; niece Christina Merten of Seattle; and nephew Zac Merten of Walla Walla; and numerous of cousins.

Darrell retired in 1984 from Dowell, an oil servicing company, which had taken the family from Kansas to Texas to Wyoming and finally settled in Littleton, Colo., in 1972.

After retirement he had a locksmith business, was a real estate appraiser, was a real estate sales person and finally found his true calling as a volunteer for Jefferson County and Douglas County Sheriff’s departments. 

A visitation will be held on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018, from 5-7 p.m. at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary & Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary and Cemetery, 6601 S. Colorado Blvd., Centennial, CO 80121. The family has requested in lieu of flowers that donations be made in Darrell’s name the Porter Hospice Foundation 2525 S. Downing St. Denver, CO 80210.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary & Cemetery

6601 S. Colorado Blvd.

Centennial, CO 80121

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Sept. 25, 2018