Darrell Albert Lietz

Darrell was born on May 20, 1928 to William and Martha Lietz near Maquoketa, Iowa. Darrell and his twin brother were the youngest of seven children. After dropping out of school after the 8th grade, he found a way back to Maquoketa High School, where he discovered a love for language and ball sports. He graduated in 1948 with no particular plans, since a football injury disqualified him from military service, and further education was then unimaginable. But thanks to the unsolicited intervention of a former teacher and coach, Tom Hanifan, Darrell boarded a westbound train to Estherville Junior College, where he would earn a teaching certificate and a cascade of 1-year teaching assignments, each contingent on summers spent getting more education. He graduated from Iowa State Teachers College in 1953, and would later earn a Masters of Arts from the University of Iowa in 1960.

Darrell devoted his professional life to education, first as an English teacher and coach in Estherville, Iowa where he met the love of his life, Ann Frances Swanson. The two married in 1957 and accepted job offers to teach at Williams Junior High School (English and Home Economics) in Davenport, Iowa. When children arrived, Ann became a full-time homemaker and Darrell pursued advanced degrees, part-time jobs, and administrative roles in the Davenport Public School System. He served as Coordinator of English, then Director of Instruction, a role he held from 1975 until his retirement in 1993. Darrell especially enjoyed his work with the Talented and Gifted program, and received the Iowa Talented and Gifted State Distinguished Service award in 1990.

Darrell was a devoted husband to Ann and father to two children: Pamela Rene and Christopher Scott. He and Ann spent nights, weekends and years establishing a series of three modest, tasteful and well-landscaped homes in Northwest Davenport. The Kelling Street home was extraordinary, as its backyard served both as the neighborhood baseball diamond and the city’s best sledding hill. Always the educator, Darrell facilitated substantive dinner-table conversations, all the while persistently enforcing proper grammar and syntax (he wisely deferred to Ann on table manners). He was quick to point out and celebrate milestones and accomplishments wherever they could be found in the events of the day (“another first for Pamela!”)

Darrell encouraged his children to read, study, play, practice and participate in all manner of school, church and community activities. He arrived early for recitals, games, assemblies, gatherings and graduations, and relished the successes of all the players and participants. Along the way, he encouraged and enabled the kids to sustain part-time jobs that would give them skills, relationships and resources that he couldn’t himself provide. They were forever affirming and supportive of their children, and lived frugally in order to send both Pamela and Christopher to Iowa State University.

Robbed of hearing due to childhood ear infections, Darrell adapted via hearing aids. When his total loss occurred in 1987, he continued to work, thanks to accommodations of the school district and Ann’s patient help, along with the bit of lip-reading he picked up along the way. In 1997, he was selected by University of Iowa Hospital as a research program recipient for a Cochlear Implant, which brought him back to the world of the hearing. He continued to support Cochlear research and development efforts for the rest of his life, serving as a test subject and providing encouragement to those considering the technology.

Darrell retired from DPSS in 1993 to a life of service, learning and travel. He became a Master Gardener and began collecting hostas, with “Great Expectations” his favorite. Once he could hear again, Darrell and Ann traveled extensively, enjoying the “educational adventures” of Elderhostels in Europe and throughout the U.S. Darrell spent more than 10 years as a volunteer for the Iowa Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), wrote a memoir (“You Asked For It”) and then began to teach others to write their own life stories. In his last years, he authored and published another book (“Reflections”), which is now a treasured possession of family, his many friends, Ridgecrest Village and the Davenport Public School Museum.

Darrell lived a life of faith. As young adults, Darrell and Ann were among a group of families called by the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church to charter Christ Church in Northwest Davenport, where they would subsequently raise their family. They would later return to their sending church, St. John’s, where they especially enjoyed the music program and the “49ers” Sunday School class. Along the way, Darrell adopted a daily devotional routine that drew him into a personal relationship with Jesus that shaped and informed every aspect of his life thereafter. He was beloved by and active in faith communities in Davenport, Kansas City and Boulder.

Darrell loved the Hawkeyes, the Cubs, and the Chiefs before they were winners and remained gracious when victories came. He somehow convinced Ann that they could afford season football tickets, and they faithfully attended games at Kinnick Stadium for many years. The 2003 Orange Bowl trip with son Christopher was a dream fulfilled, untarnished by the final score. Until the end, he oriented his schedule around televised games, and visitors during those times learned to either join the watch party or come back later.

Darrell loved his grandchildren beyond measure. He and Ann delighted in seeing their children become parents, and then in watching each of their five grandchildren grow into adulthood. They traveled to St. Louis and Chicago, and later, Kansas City and Boulder whenever they could to attend an event or simply soak in the joy of grandparenting. Graduations were the biggest event; nothing made Darrell happier than seeing a grandchild wearing a cap and gown. Darrell maintained an intense interest in the lives and careers of each of his grandchildren, asking questions and expecting answers. As grandchildren married, new family members were welcomed with the same serious questioning and unconditional love. He was thrilled when his first great-grandchild was born in 2021, adding a new set of questions to be answered about this newest member of the Lietz clan.

Darrell and Ann moved to Boulder Colorado in 2021 to be near son Christopher and his family. After Ann’s journey with Alzheimer’s disease ended in May of 2021, Darrell continued to live a full life focused on his faith, his love of family, his enthusiasm for friends, and his passion for the Hawkeyes. He maintained contact with friends and family via email and his iPhone, both of which kept him interested and interesting right until the end. He became adept at the use of FaceTime to maintain contact with his extensive network and he learned to use Zoom for the “Lietz Business Meeting,” where he held Pamela and Christopher to account for proper management of his affairs. Darrell was always both a teacher and a student, and we all marveled at his ability to learn, adapt and embrace the world around him. Darrell’s life was truly an inspiration to all who knew and loved him.

Darrell is predeceased by his wife Ann. He is survived by his daughter Pamela (David) Berneking of Lampe, MO; Christopher (Marlys) Lietz of Boulder, Colorado and his grandchildren Ettie Berneking (Ryan Kelley), Ethan Berneking (Ashley) and great granddaughter Anderson, Emma Lietz Bilecky (Tyler), Calvin Lietz (fiancé Sarah D’Souza) and Clara Lietz.

The family is deeply grateful for care provided by Sunrise Senior Living and Gateway Hospice in Boulder, Colorado, and the many individuals who cared for Darrell with such kindness over the past few months. Friends near and far have been a gift to all of us, and we express our gratitude. A celebration of the life of Darrell A. Lietz will be held at 1:00 PM MST Saturday, March 11 at Pine Street Church, 1237 Pine Street in Boulder, Colorado.

Darrell and Ann endowed a scholarship fund at Iowa State University to help students from Davenport or elsewhere in Iowa pursue teaching as a profession. During their lifetime, they were able to grant several scholarships and the ability to leave this legacy gave them immense pride and joy. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests honoring Darrell’s passion for education through a memorial gift directed to the Darrell and Ann Lietz Family Scholarship, payable to the Iowa State University Foundation (2505 University Boulevard, P.O. Box 2230, Ames, Iowa 50010-2230, Condolences can be sent to the family ℅ Christopher Lietz, 2065 Floral Drive, Boulder, CO 80304

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cristmortuary.com for the Lietz family.