Darrell E. Pedersen

Darrell Eugene Pedersen, 65 of Sioux City, IA passed away Saturday, September 3, 2011 after a long illness with COPD. Funeral services will be 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011 at Morningside Lutheran Church with Rev. Dave Denzer officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be the hour prior to the service at the church. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com . Darrell was born Feb. 26, 1946 in Hartington, NE the son of Lloyd and Inez (Gunderson) Pedersen. He grew up in Hartington and graduated from Hartington High School. He graduated from Wayne State College, received his master's degree from the University of South Dakota and his specialist from Drake University. On June 16, 1968 he married Ann M. Palmer in Hartington. That same year the couple made their home in Sioux City where Darrell began his career as an educator at Everett School. Four years later he went to work for Woodbury County AEA 12 where he was a consultant, director of special education and a coordinator. He was a member of the Retired Educators Association, plus other educational organizations throughout his career. In earlier years he served as director of Special Olympics. He was a member of Morningside Lutheran Church. Darrell enjoyed woodworking, yard work and computers. Survivors include his wife, Ann; 3 daughters and their husbands, Cara and Troy Kern of Sioux City, Minda and Tate Hamann of Coralville, IA and Jana and David Hesker of Denver, CO; 6 grandchildren, Hayli, Chase and Ariel Kern, Aila and Asher Hamann and Jonathan Hesker; his father, Lloyd Pedersen of Hartington, NE; a brother and his wife, Dennis and Cyndee Pedersen of Sacramento, CA and 2 sisters and their husbands, Lois and Don Bottolfsen of Yankton, SD and Beverly and Scot Lund of Hutchinson, KS; his parents-in-law, Merle and Betty Palmer of Hartington, NE and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Inez Pedersen. Pallbearers will be Donald Bottolfsen, Scot Lund, David Dooley, Wally Hamnn, Monte Morten and Jim Kuhl.