Darwin James Zirpel

A memorial service for Darwin Zirpel will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, October 9, at Faith Lutheran Church in Parkston. Interment will follow at the Parkston Protestant Cemetery.

Darwin was born on September 20, 1963 at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls. He was adopted by Erwin and Olinda Zirpel on January 30, 1964. Darwin was baptized on February 4, 1964 at Zion Lutheran Church in Mitchell and was confirmed at Immanuel, Dimock. His confirmation verse was John 11:25-6. He grew up on the family farm west of Parkston. During the summer Darwin enjoyed playing baseball for the Immanuel Lutheran team as well as volleyball with the youth group. He attended K-1 grade at Washington Country School. He then attended grades 2-12 in Parkston. In high school Darwin was a member of the wrestling team and he enjoyed singing and was in various choral groups. He graduated high school in 1981. Darwin then attended Mitchell Vo-Tech, studying electrical engineering. He then enlisted in the Army National Guard and was honorably discharged on 10/03/86. Darwin then moved to Yankton where he worked for many years at Alumax MFG. He resided in Yankton the remainder of his years. His last residence was at Avera Care Center in Yankton. He passed away at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls.

He is survived by his brother, John; nephew, Michael (Meghann); niece, Taryn (Quentin); aunts, Luella Zirpel, Rose Roth, Mary Mettenbrink and Rosemary Laib.

Darwin was preceded in death by his parents, Erwin and Olinda; grandparents, Fred and Emma Laib and Gottfried and Gertrude Zirpel as well as uncles and aunts: Leonard (Mary, Johnny and Lillian), Wilburt (Audrey), Elmer, Norbert (Elaine) and Harold (Virginia), Clifford Roth, Richard Mehlhaff, Harold Mettenbrink, Erwin and Leona Goehring, Arnold and Magdalena Laib, Arnold and Delores Kirchhevel and Roland Laib; cousins: Suzanna Zirpel, Carla Roth, Kathy Zirpel, Ruby Zirpel, Cindy Roth, Carol Roth, Velda Goehring, Myron Laib, and Douglas Laib.