Service Information
Darrel M. Gander, age 94, of Hutchinson, Minnesota, passed away on Monday, September 28, 2020, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson.
Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2020, at 10:30 A.M. at Oak Heights Covenant Church in Hutchinson with interment in the Oakland Cemetery in Hutchinson.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at Oak Heights Covenant Church.
Masks are required and social distancing guidelines will be followed.
Please see Oak Heights Covenant Church Facebook Page for live streaming of the service.
Obituary
Darrel Melvin Gander was born in the backwoods of southwestern Wisconsin near Soldiers Grove. He took pride in his humble "hillbilly" roots and simple upbringing. He was lovingly raised by his mother Maud and father Melvin, who ministered at Minnesota Lake when Darrel graduated from high school. Darrel received his First-Class Radio License from Northwestern Radio & Electronics Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1948. He held jobs as an engineer at KWNO Winona 1948, WXLT Ely 1948-1950, WEVE Evelyth 1950, and WKLK Cloquet 1951-1953. He met and started dating the lovely secretary Marion Herrala at WXLT, and married her for life after sending her an engagement ring through the mail. In addition to his electrical engineering work, he did announcing in various degrees. At WKLK he had a popular show as "Cactus Slim," where he received over 200 cards and letters a week. After helping install stations in Sparta Wisconsin and KDWB in St. Paul, he became the chief engineer at KDUZ in Hutchinson, Minnesota where he was first tasked with bringing it on the air in 1953.
He writes that 1964 was a year of great personal change for him. He told the Lord that "if He would have me, I would serve Him to the best of my ability." The personal change in attitudes and behaviors was immediately apparent to both him and others. He served the Lord faithfully in all ways, becoming knowledgeable in Scripture and teaching Bible studies throughout his life. He attended Bethany Baptist Church for many years, and later Oak Heights Covenant Church.
Darrel did radio station work for the Pacific Broadcast Association in Japan in 1980 and again in 1983. He was accompanied by Marion and they both had very fond memories of those occasions. He retired from KDUZ in 1991 with 38 years of service.
Darrel was a soft-spoken, kind man known for his creative innovation, quick wit, gentle spirit, wisdom, and knowledge in both spiritual and earthly things. He was a loving father and took special joy in interacting with his grandchildren. The Lord took Darrel home Monday, September 28, 2020, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson, Minnesota at the age of 94 years.
Darrel is survived by his:
Children, Cynthia Gander of Hutchinson, MN,
Curtis Gander and his wife, Joan of Hutchinson, MN,
Mariel Woods and her husband, Keith, of Granite Falls, MN;
Grandchildren, Abbie Zoellner and her husband, Michael, Andrew Gander and his wife, Kara, Alec Woods and his wife, Nicole, Emma Rawson and her husband, James;
Great-Grandchildren, Delaney Zoellner, Evelyn Gander;
Many other relatives and friends.
Darrel was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Maud Gander; spouse, Marion Gander; siblings, Gaylord Gander, Doris Hess, Leon Gander, Clement Gander, and infant Dale Gander.
Sherri Burich says
Dear Friend,
I will miss you, in this world.
May God comfort your family and friends .
I can only imagine the inexpressible joy you are experiencing; meeting your loved ones and Lord!
Until we meet again .
Mariel Woods says
Thank you so very much!
Bonnie Karl says
Sending sympathy to the Gander family. I had the pleasure of working with Darrel at KDUZ/KKJR radio station many years ago. He was a wonderful, kind and caring man.
Mariel Woods says
Thank you so very much!
Larry Graf says
Cynthia, Curt and Mariel, Sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. He’s not in a better home with your mom. Darrel was a terrific man, and the best engineer in the country. Darrel could fix anything. He was a genius in electronics. I have many wonderful memories of Darrel and our many years together at KDUZ. RIP
Mariel Woods says
Larry,
Thank you for your kind words. Yes, he really could fix anything! He was too humble to admit to being an electronic genius, but he truly was. We are thankful he is finally in glory seeing his Savior and being with my mom.
Curt Gander says
Thanks Larry, it is amazing what he could create by improvising what he needed pre-computer era. The museum has some of the equipment he made, hooe to have some displayed at the reception.
Connie Harbarth says
Curt, Joan and family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Joan Gander says
Thank you Connie.
Robert Gander (nephew) says
Nearing the end of his secondary education, Grandpa Melvin wanted Darrel to get a job and start working. But Darrel wanted to go on to school. When my mother (Ruth Gander) heard Darrel explain his dilemma, immediately she told Darrel in no uncertain terms, “You go on to school.” He did. And he launched himself into a career leading to marriage and family.
Curt says
Thanks for the story, Bob, had not heard it before. Your mom had a big heart.
Robert Gander says
Yeah. And except for Mary, they are all gone.
We are next. Seee you tomorrow at the visitation and funeral.
Jim and Angie Haala says
We are so sorry for your loss. We rejoice in Christ Jesus, our Saviour!
Mariel Woods says
Jim and Angie, thank you. Yes, I will miss my dad here, but I know he is safely Home. Praise God for our hope in Jesus!
Judy Suess says
Curt, Joan and Family,
So sorry for your loss. Thinking of you. May his memories remain with you always until you meet again.
Larry and Judy Suess
Joan says
Thank you Judy and Larry.
Bob Prieve says
Hi Curtis. Don’t know if you remember me.
We were your back door neighbors, us on College Ave and
you on (? I can’t remember) Court,
My Mom just died today, and looking at the obits I saw Darrel and
despite my age, I knew who it was instantly.
Sorry for your loss. Say hi to your sisters.
Mariel Woods says
Bob, I just left a note on your mom’s obituary page as well (I actually tried last night and that message didn’t seem to go through, so hopefully this one did), but thank you for leaving a note on my dad’s. I have so many memories of your mom and your family. Tom was more my age, so we were the little ones running around! Greet your brothers for me, as well. You are all in my prayers during this time.
Mariel (Gander) Woods
Curt Gander says
Hi Bob, thanks for the comment, and my condolences as well for your mom. Yes I remember you but of course Steve much more. And Tom was one of the little punks. We had a great childhood neighborhood with lots of memories. Blessings to your family as we go through this together.