Darrell Boyd Iwan: 1935 – 2024
Darrell Boyd Iwan, 88, of Gillette, Wyoming passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 18, 2024.
Darrell was born November 8, 1935 on a ranch in Mellette County, South Dakota to Harold and Amy (Rada) Iwan. He was the fifth of 11 children. In 1948 he moved with family to Deadwood, South Dakota but still spent his summers back home on the ranch. He graduated from Deadwood High School in 1953. He stayed home and worked on the ranch until 1958 when he joined the Army for Airborne Duty with the 101st Airborne Division in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He did his Ranger training in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee. His platoon won top honors through Company, Battle Group, and Division competition in the field. After leaving the service, he returned home to the ranch.
On July 15, 1961, he married the love of his life, Carol (Rodgers). They had two children together, Reba and Clinton. In 1970 they moved to Belvidere, South Dakota where he went to work for the Milwaukee Railroad. He continued his passion for the railroad working for private contractors throughout the Western and Southern states, as well as Alaska, building new tracks and upgrading old ones. Upon retirement, he returned to Deadwood, South Dakota where you could find him doing seasonal work at the local golf courses or grooming trails throughout the Black Hills. He had a passion for fishing, rock hunting, trapping, collecting antiques, and spending time with his grandchildren. In 2019 he moved to Gillette where he was able to spend time with his great-grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Carol; daughter, Reba (Owen); son, Clinton (Deanette); grandchildren: Rachel, Laura (Travis), Sarah, Tanya (Modesto), Grant (Jeremy): great-grandchildren: Lainah, Autumn, Natasha, Loralei, Lucas, Thomas, Daniel, Lucy; siblings: Rodney, Floyd, Joe, Roger; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Amy; and siblings: Phyllis, Joyce, Paul, Arlene, Beryl Jean, and Donny.
Visitation is Wednesday, June 26, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home in Gillette, Wyoming. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 27 at 10:00 a.m. at Walker Funeral Home in Gillette, Wyoming. A committal service will be held at Black Hills National Cemetery, Thursday, June 27 at 2:30 p.m. in Sturgis, South Dakota.
The family is asking if anyone has stories or memories, they would like to share about Darrell to please email them. Memorials can be made in Darrell’s name to Home Health Hospice of Campbell County PO Box 3011, Gillette, WY 82717 or Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 203 Flying Circle Drive, Gillette, WY 82716.
