Darrell E. Merten

Darrell E. Merten passed away on September 18, 2018 in Centennial from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. He was surround by his children and wife. Darrell was born in Great Bend, Kansas on January 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 Colorado. Whom he married in Aurora

Colorado 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(October 26, 1979) whom he married on January 2, 1955 in Great Bend, Kansas. They had 3 children, Becky (Rex) Horne of Centennial, Colorado, Judy (Kevin) McCarthy of Omaha, Nebraska, and Craig (Tami) Merten of Parker, Colorado.

He delighted in his 9 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 7 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, WA, niece Christina Merten of Seattle and nephew Zac (Erin) Merten of Walla Walla and numerous 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, Colorado 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.

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.