Daryl A. Pape

Daryl A. Pape, 90, of Hawkeye, died Monday, August 11, 2025, at his home.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, August 15, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawkeye with Rev. Ron Roberts officiating. Interment with military rites was held at West Union Cemetery, following the luncheon. Visitation preceded the funeral service at the Church on Friday starting at 9:30 a.m. Memorials may be made to the family for later designation. Becker & Son Funeral Home in Hawkeye is assisting Daryl's family. Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com.

Daryl Ahlert Pape was born Sept. 12, 1934 in rural Eldorado. He was the fifth of six children born to Henry and Mildred Pape.

Daryl was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Eldorado. He attended Dover Center country school from first through eighth grades, walking two miles each way to school. In the winter, the Pape kids pulled their sleds to school because their trip home was quicker sledding down "Pape Hill."

In 1952, Daryl graduated from West Union High School and went to work as a rodman for Bert B. Hanson & Associates, West Union. In the winter months, he worked six days a week, earning 80-cents an hour. He recalls helping survey the boundaries of Effigy Mounds near McGregor, so it could be developed as a tourist attraction.

In 1957, Daryl was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served from April '57 until his honorable discharge in 1959, from Fort Lewis, Wash. Upon returning to Eldorado, he again went to work for Bert Hanson & Associates, while also helping his parents on their farm along the Turkey River. Daryl married Marilyn Vagts on June 11, 1960 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Eldorado. The couple lived on the home place and began raising a family, with the birth of two girls, Janell and Joleen.

In 1966, the couple bought a farm west of Hawkeye and milked cows and raised a few hogs and chickens. Son Darren was born in 1967. The Papes farmed until 1974 when they bought Lauer Implement and sold their dairy herd. They renamed the business, Pape Implement & Appliance.

Daryl relished his role as a local repairman and all of the relationships he and Mary built with their customers and other Amana and Maytag dealers across the State and Midwest. They took a number of business trips over the years, and with the introduction of the 'Amana Microwave' hosted cooking classes at their store in Hawkeye.

Daryl served on the Hawkeye Fire Department from 1974-94. He was fire captain for 18 years. He was a member of the Hawkeye Businessmen's Association from 1974-2008, and served Trinity Lutheran on its Church Council. He and Mary were active with the Hawkeye Community Club Board and enjoyed rides with the Driftrunner Snowmobile Club while their kids were in their teens. Daryl looked forward to golfing on men's days and on weekends with friends, at Big Rock Country Club from 1977 until the couple could no longer golf. They also enjoyed spending winter months in Arizona through 2011.

Survivors include Daryl's three children: Janell (Jeff) Bradley of Wadena; Joleen (Scott) Garvin, of West Union and Darren (Janie) of Dodge Center, Minn.; 6 grandchildren: Sarah (Max Coller) Bradley of McFarland, Wis., Ryan (Sarah Wallick) Bradley, of Macomb, Ill., Laura (Cody) Schmidtke of Manchester, LaCreasha (Darren) Schultz of Hawkeye, Clif McNeese, Aiken, S.C. and Matthew Pape, Dodge Center; eight great grandchildren: Emma, Gracie, Randi, Luke, Dawson, Deakon, Piper, and Parker; a brother-in-law, Gerald (John) Vagts and his wife, Mary Ann; a sister-in-law, Kay Pape of Sun City, Ariz.; sisters-in-law Evelyn Vagts and Audrey Vagts, West Union, and nieces and nephews.

Daryl was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, in 2018; granddaughter, Alison Garvin, in 2013; parents, siblings Jeanette (Herb) Vagts, Kathleen (Lawrence) Traeger, Donna (Bud) Brockmeyer, Don Pape and Howard Pape.