Darrel Charles Heald

Darrel Charles Heald, 87 of Ponca, Nebraska, passed away on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at a nursing facility in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. Funeral Services will be at 3:00 p.m. Friday, January at Salem Lutheran Church in Ponca, Nebraska with Reverend Chuck Stanga officiating. Burial will follow in the Ponca City Cemetery. Visitation, with family present, will begin at 5:00 p.m. Thursday at the Mohr Funeral Home in Ponca with a Prayer Service beginning Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.meyerbroschapels.com

Darrel was born on October 29, 1937 in rural Ponca, on the family farm to Roy and Sylvia (Stading) Heald. At the young age of 17, Darrel was thrust into the care and upkeep of the farm after the death of his father. He graduated from Ponca High School with the Class of 1955. Darrel married Patricia “Patty” Peterson on June 5, 1966. The couple made the family farm their home and raised their two boys, Chris and Chuck. Farming was his life, but he also found great joy in his outside interests in being a private pilot, an amateur astronomer, and obtaining his commercial driver’s license so he could drive a truck. Darrel and Patty took great pride in their grandchildren, and enjoyed as a couple their church, community, gardening, and caring for the animals at the farm. Darrel also loved drinking coffee with his wonderful friends and spending the time together as they would visit.

Darrel is survived by his sons Chris (Carrie) Heald of Lake Forest, California and Chuck (Stacy) Heald of Hubbard, Nebraska; granddaughter Elizabeth Heald and grandson Zachary Heald.

Darrel was preceded in death by his parents, wife Patty in 2021, and brother Donald Heald.