Diverting from the traditional obituary format, and the tremendously difficult task of summing up Darold’s full and happy life in a few paragraphs, please allow us the opportunity to highlight some events and relationships that Darold found important in his life.
From his own handwritten note, “The best days of my life were when God gave me the love of my life, Sharon (Married Sept. 22, 1962), the birth of our kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”
Darold, the son of Gordon and Loretta Walker, was the middle child with older brother Don and younger sister Judy. Born July 1, 1941, he grew up loving camping, fishing and competing with his brother, Don. Stories from middle school showed that Darold was a protector of weaker kids who ended up becoming lifelong friends. He loved sports competition, a trait he passed on to his three sons. This led to 20 years of coaching Belvidere Youth Baseball. It didn’t come as a surprise that years later he helped organize softball leagues for men 65 years and older in Texas and Illinois.
Darold was a lifelong member of Carpenters Local 792 and was proud that he built all three homes where he and Sharon raised the boys.
He was a member of Alpine Lutheran Church where he served on the Council, was a frequent usher, and was proud to serve as the chairman of the church renovation project.
Dad loved to travel with Sharon, visiting Hawaii, Alaska and Australia, among many other places. Please join us in a tribute to a devoted husband; a father that dedicated every free moment after work to teach his sons to play baseball or go on Boy Scout trips; a proud papa of six grandchildren, one great-grandchild and one on the way; a competitive softball and pickleball player; and the reigning Walker Family Reunion bags champion.
Darold Lester Walker, 79, of Belvidere, Illinois, passed away on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at home. His wife Sharon; sister, Judy Ingram of Tualatin, Oregon; and a cousin, Sheryl Murray of Rockton, Illinois, were present.
Survivors are his wife; Sharon of Belvidere; three sons, Daron Walker of Springfield, Brad (Angie) Walker of Winnebago and Stuart (Dawn) Walker of Rantoul; six grandchildren; one-great-grandchild and one on the way; brother, Donald (Rhonda) Walker of Syracuse, Ind.; sister, Judy (Nurmi) Ingram of Tualatin, Ore.; nieces, nephews and many cousins.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at Alpine Lutheran Church, Rockford, with funeral services following at 11 a.m. at the church. Memorial contributions may be made in Darold's name to Alpine Lutheran Church or to the UW-Madison Carbone Cancer Center: Development, 600 Highland Ave. MC 9945, Madison WI 53792.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18