AVERY, Darrell Lee 1944-2020

AVERY, JANSSEN, FORTSCH

Posted By: K.L. Kittleson
Date: 5/1/2020 at 07:30:06

Darrell Lee Avery

December 23, 1944 - April 29, 2020

Obituary for Darrell Lee Avery

Meservey – Darrell Lee Avery, 75, of Meservey, Iowa, died Wednesday, April 29, 2020, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City, Iowa.

Due to state and federal guidance on gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the family will not be having a public memorial at this time.

Per Darrell’s wishes, his body has been cremated and a graveside service will be held at Meservey Cemetery at a later date.

Family suggests memorial contributions to the Vietnam Veterans of America-Iowa State Council.

Darrell was born December 23, 1944, the son of Harwood and Idella (Janssen) Avery, in Meservey.

He married Deborah Ann Fortsch on April 20, 1968, in Oelwein, and together they enjoyed 52 years of marriage.

Darrell graduated from Meservey High School, and later in life graduated from North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City. He began working for Northern Natural Gas in 1968, and was transferred to Midland, TX in 1979. He and his family moved back to Iowa in 1983, where he would work for Unisys, Eaton Corporation, deliver ostriches and also work in maintenance at MercyOne North Iowa-West Campus.

Darrell was a member of the Meservey American Legion Post 171. While in Texas, he was the chaplain for a local American Legion post, which brought him a lot of satisfaction. He enjoyed gardening, fixing fence, cutting down trees, and later in life, planting trees. Most of all, working on the farm brought him the greatest pleasure.

Darrell is survived by his wife, Deb Avery of Meservey; daughter, Beth Avery of Meservey; granddaughters, Haley (Josh) Englehardt of Des Moines and Sierra Bailey of Meservey; and siblings, Della (Doug) Shoop of Klemme, Diane Davis of Ventura, Doris (Dennis) Peterson of Iowa City, Darwin (Brenda) Avery of Ventura, Denis (Wanda) Avery of Meservey and Dean (Rebecca) Avery of Meservey.

He was preceded in death by his parents; children, Scott Avery and Brooke Avery; and brother-in-law, Duane Davis.

SOURCE: Colonial Chapel funeral home