Darel “Big Daddy” E. Fleck, 89, Sauk Rapids

August 9, 1925 - March 17, 2015

Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 21, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sauk Rapids for Darel “Big Daddy” E. Fleck, 89 of Sauk Rapids who passed away on Tuesday at the VA Medical Center in St. Cloud. Rev. Paul Cloeter will officiate and burial will be at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Sauk Rapids. Friends and relatives may call from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2015 at Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Sauk Rapids and also one hour prior to services at the church in Sauk Rapids on Saturday. Trinity Lutheran prayers will be at 7:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home in Sauk Rapids.

Darel was born on August 9, 1925 in Ramey to Ora and Olga (Leyk) Fleck. He was united in marriage to Alvina Skuza on December 14, 1946 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sauk Rapids. He lived most of his life in Sauk Rapids. Darel served his country in the United States Army Air Corps. He was also a Millwright at Champion for 32 years, retiring in 1987. Darel was a member of Trinity Lutheran church where he served his church community as an usher and as a deacon. He was a member of the Sauk Rapids American Legion Post #254. Darel was very intelligent and had a talent of retaining information. He loved to learn, especially mathematics. Darel loved fishing, hunting, reading, bowling and puzzles such as crosswords and Sudoku. He could fix anything, as he was a great carpenter, plumber, electrician, conservationist and an overall hardworker. Darel was also very kind, trustworthy, quiet and had a great sense of humor.

Survivors include his loving wife, Alvina of Sauk Rapids; sons and daughters, Jerry (Cheryl) of Zimmerman, Vicki (Mark) Strommen of East Bethel, Sandy of Sauk Rapids, Bob of Sauk Rapids and Kay (Mark) Anderson of Roseville; sisters and brothers, Delphine Scholtes of Plymouth, Duane “Pete” (Margaret) Fleck of St. Cloud, Elaine (Russ) Sowa of Sauk Rapids, Bill (Karen) Fleck of Littleton, CO; sister-in-law, Audrey Fleck of Sauk Rapids; grandchildren, Rashell, Josh, Tina and Jeremy; and great grandchildren, Mariah, Justin, Jordan, Eli, Ava, Dominick and Logan. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Elwin “Babe” Fleck; brother-in-law, Chuck Scholtes and great granddaughter, Hailey.