Darrell Thurman

Darrell was born on March 9, 1936 to Ruth Thurman in Mount Ayr, Iowa. After moving to Kansas City, Kansas at a young age, he grew up in the Armourdale neighborhood, where he would later meet the love of his life, Nancy Stewart.

Darrell was raised in a large family of 13 children and was one of a set of twins. He was preceded in death by his mother, Ruth Thurman; his twin brother, Merrill “Fat” Thurman; and his siblings; Chester “Chet” Thurman, Donald “Dale” Thurman, Dorothy Irion, Betty Brown, Alvin Thurman, Edna Donlen, Bonnie Stanturf, Kenneth “Kenny” Thurman, Margaret “Mickey” Thurman, Vera Wyrick. He is survived by his younger sister, Shirley Kilburn.

Growing up at 1212 Taylor Ave, Darrell met Nancy, who lived just down the street at 1232 Taylor Ave. The two were married February 26, 1955 and spent 71 years together. Together, they raised 6 children, 5 daughters and one son.

Darrell is survived by wife Nancy Thurman; their six children Bonnie (John) Mozingo, Debbie Waterworth, Connie Wenger, Brenda Ghale, Darrell “Billy” (Kim) Thurman, Tammy (Steve) Savner; 9 grandchildren; Shawn (Carrie) Mozingo, Kathy Foss, Pamela (Brian) Riemenschneider, Wendy Perez, Curtis Waterworth, Caitlin (Jimmy) Whittlesey, Tiffani (Tony) Mount, Taylor Thurman, Rachel (TJ) Schmitt; 15 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by sons-in-law, Mark Waterworth, Ira Wenger, William Ghale, as well as his great-great-granddaughter Amaya.

After obtaining his GED, Darrell worked a variety of jobs throughout his life, picking up plenty of stories along the way. But when family and friends think of Darrell’s working life, two careers stand out above the rest. He began his career at Safeway in 1956, where he worked as a superintendent in the Pre-Pakt Produce Department. Later, he earned his CDL and became a truck driver with CCX, where he eventually retired. Both careers became part of the family stories he carried with him, giving his children memories of the places he worked, the people he met, and the experiences he brought home. But as much as he took pride in his work, his greatest achievements weren’t found in a job title or a career—they were found in the family he built and the life he shared with them.

Darrell also proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army Reserve, serving with the 137th Infantry. He was honorably discharged in April, 1961, having attained the rank of Private First Class. Though we may not know all the details of his time in uniform, his service was another part of the life he built and the legacy he leaves behind.

In October 1963, Darrell was raised as a 3rd Degree Master Mason in Delaware Lodge No. 96 in Kansas City, Kansas, under the Grand Lodge of Kansas. Masonry remained an important part of his life for nearly 63 years. During his years of Masonic service, Darrell coached 14 men through their journey to becoming Master Masons, including his own grandson, Taylor Thurman. His dedication to the fraternity and to helping others learn and carry on its traditions was something he took great pride in.

Darrell was a man of many titles, father, husband, brother, grandfather; but to his family he was so much more. He was dependable, our family’s go-to-guy, a story teller, and a jokester. He loved his coffee hot, black, and there was rarely such a thing as “just one cup.” He was quick with a joke and even quicker with a remark, always ready to add his own humor to a conversation.

To his grandchildren, Darrell was the master storyteller. For more than 20 years, he convinced us that Missy Raccoon was real as well as Petey the crane, and MoMo. He also warned us about “squeeze rock,” which would get you if you failed to take your picture before passing through it along the path at Ha Ha Tonka State Park. Those stories became part of our childhoods, and the memories of hearing them from him are the ones we will carry with us

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If you asked family or friends what Darrell is most known for, his love for traveling would surely be among the first things mentioned. The Midwest held many of his favorite places, and countless family trips were made to Perry Lake, the Lake of the Ozarks, Bear Lake in Colorado, and the legendary “Mount Rushmore” trips as they came to be known.

Darrell had a way of making the simple ordinary things matter most. Camping, fishing, boating, road trips and the time spent together became memories that grew more valuable with every passing year. He didn’t need anything extravagant to create something worth remembering. He simply needed his family, a little time, and somewhere to go.

We will miss Darrell more than words can say. To those of us who loved him most, his life feels like it was far too short, yet somehow he managed to leave behind a lifetime of memories, stories, laughter, and love. He was our family’s rock-the person who seemed like he would always be there.

While we wish we could have had more time, we are grateful for every moment we were given. His life was well lived, his love was deeply felt, and his memory will live on in the generations of family he leaves behind.

Services in honor of Darrell will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at Chapel Hill Funeral Home at 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66112.