Darrell Ardell Dorn

Darrell A. Dorn was one of nine children born to Earl Day Dorn and Ruby Lorraine (Petersen) Dorn on a farm in Iowa. He grew up in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Fresh out of high school he entered World War II and fought for the infantry in Italy.

Darrell began working at the Union Pacific Railroad where he met Patricia A. Hatch whom he married on January 4, 1951 while enlisted in the Korean War. They had four children Debra, Gregg, Kurt, and Richard.

Darrell started his career at the headquarter of the Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha, Nebraska. In the summer of 1968 he learned that his family was in a horrific car accident. It took the lives of Debra and Gregg. In 1970, the railroad transferred him to Boise, Idaho where the pain of losing two of his children was a little less. He would retire in 1983.

In the late 1970’s he purchased land in Round Valley and built a cabin.  He built most of it by himself. Every nail was done by hand.  Three generations and many friends have enjoyed the cabin and the love that went into building it.

During his long life he enjoyed many different outdoor activities such as camping in the mountains, hiking in the forest, fishing in the Idaho lakes as well as baseball, golfing, and gardening.

Darrell enjoyed serving others, He was a baseball coach for two of his sons’ teams and a scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts of America in two troops. He also volunteered at Redeemer Lutheran Church.

In the mid 1980’s he developed another hobby that he loved more than any other hobby. He became a “Papa”. He very much loved his two grandsons. Nothing made him happier than to see them running toward his shop after school.

Darrell’s greatest love was his wife. They traveled together to many different places, like big cities, ghost towns, and many campgrounds. They went through a phase where they were rockhounds searching for agates and thunder eggs. When his wife got cancer, he was right by her side until the end. Watching the care and love he had at the end of her life was a life lesson for others.

Preceding him in death are his wife Patricia, sons Gregg Dorn and Richard Dorn; his daughter Debra Dorn; his parents Earl Dorn and Ruby; brothers Robert Dorn and Kenneth Dorn; and sisters Madilynn Pitt, Thelma Hunter, and Dorothy Ward.

Darrell is survived by his son Kurt Dorn; his grandsons Aaron Dorn and Trevor Dorn; his brothers Donald Dorn and Larry Dorn; his sisters Lois Hansen and Dorothy Ward and many other relatives and friends.