He graduated from Broken Bow High School in 1971. After high school he briefly attended Iowa State University where he studied electronics, until deciding he would much rather be working with his hands. While working as a carpenter in Broken Bow, Nebraska, in 1977 he met Janice at the local watering hole and fell in love. Darrell and Janice were married on April 8th, 1978. Upon completion of Jan’s teaching contract that year, they relocated to Denver and started their family. Darrell took a job in the mail room at KN Energy (Kinder Morgan/SourceGas) in Lakewood, Colorado and over the next 30+ years worked his way up through the company to eventually become a director of corporate real estate. During their time in Arvada, Darrell and Jan spent their time connecting with wonderful neighbors, exploring the front range and mountains, and of course, raising their children, Jeremy and Jaime.
Darrell loved tools and never stopped working with his hands. He was always building, optimizing and tinkering with house projects, frequently putting others’ projects before his own. After retirement and 40 years in Arvada, he finally set out to build his dream house in Elizabeth, Colorado. While building the house he even had a brush with cancer, but he refused to let it slow him down. During retirement Darrell was tasked with being a full-time caregiver for his wife Janice, which he did with such deep love, loyalty and commitment, until she passed in January 2025. After relocating to Elizabeth, he found a new church home at Trinity Lutheran Church in Franktown, CO and began to do what he did best, help and serve others. Within no time he was volunteering to help with community meals, church events or even offering to mow the grass. And as always, Darrell was a doting son to his 93-year-old mother and was making frequent trips to Nebraska to help her with whatever she may need.
Darrell loved so many things in his life. He loved the outdoors and to camp, hunt and fish. He loved to travel and explore and was always looking for the best local café no matter what little town he was in…especially if they had Rock Mountain Oysters. And when it came to food, Darrell was a peanut butter lover and would put in on the strangest things. He loved dogs and had a special place in his heart for our family dog, D.J., who received a scoop of ice cream every single night at 9 o’clock.
And most of all he was “Papa” to his grandchildren. He LOVED his grandchildren. He was their biggest fan, always supporting them at every game, event, show, ceremony or just to spend time together. Darrell was truly a good man that would give you the shirt off his back, the ultimate problem solver, and he will be dearly missed by so many.
Darrell is survived by his mother Rose Hirsch; children Jeremy (Erin) Hirsch and Jaime (Michael) Greene; grandchildren Adelyn, Jude and Bianca; step-grandchildren Cole (Amanda) Greene and Olivia Greene; step-great grandchild Ava Greene; sisters Denise Daake and Deb Gribble and brother-in-law Wayne (Michelle) Price.
He is preceded in death by his wife Janice Hirsch, father Wayne Hirsch, father-in-Law Everett Price; mother-in-Law Loretta Price; brother-in-law Marty Clark; brother-in-law Bernard Gribble; and brother-in-law Leonard Daake
A Memorial Service will be held at Olinger Andrews Caldwell Gibson Chapel, Evergreen Room, 407 Jerry Street, Castle Rock, Colorado 80104, on August 8, 2026, at 11:00 am.
A Fellowship Lunch will be held at Olinger Andrews Caldwell Gibson Chapel, Evergreen Room, 407 Jerry Street, Castle Rock, Colorado 80104, immediately following the Celebration of Life, on August 8, 2026.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Berean Bible Church, 2419 Memorial Dr., Broken Bow, Nebraska 68822, on August 15, 2026; times to be determined.
