Cover photo for Darrel Poffenberger's Obituary
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Darrel Poffenberger

May 22, 1928 — July 13, 2021

Winona

Darrel Poffenberger

Darrel L. Poffenberger, age 93, of Winona, passed away on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at Cottagewood in Rochester, MN.

He was born on May 22, 1928, in Kasson, MN, to Neil and Ida (Larson) Poffenberger.  Darrel attended Kasson schools, and graduated in 1946.  Darrel worked in Kasson and Clarion, IA, before entering the United States Navy.

Darrel married Lorraine Boettner in 1952, and they traveled with their two children as a Navy family for 20 years.  Darrel’s Navy career included the following: one year in Olathe, KS; two years in Puerto Rico with the Seabees; three years as a Navy recruiter in Minneapolis; La Spezia, Italy, where he helped establish the SACLANT Anti-Submarine Research Center, and helped a world renowned scientist for three years; Norfolk, VA, where he was attached to a command whose primary duty was to find a keep track of Russian submarines, later to Iceland for three years for the same command; and finally he finished his Naval career working with a classified group at the Pentagon.

In 1970, Darrel and his family returned to Kasson to assume the roles of civilians.  He spent seven years as a Deputy Auditor in Mantorville, MN, and then twelve years in Winona in various positions with the State of Minnesota.  From 1974 to 1989, Darrel attended night classes at Winona State, graduating in 1980 after earning his BA degree.

Darrel always believed that he led a very lucky life, and lived it at some of the best times in the history of the United States.  Everything was easier than he expected it to be.  He always felt that God put his family into his life as an unearned additional joy – he could never understand why.

Darrel is survived by his daughter, Wendy; son: Bryan; grandson: Jonathan; as well as other relatives and friends.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Lorraine, on October 30, 2020; and his twin brother, Dale.

Funeral services will be held at 2 PM on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at Faith Lutheran Church in Winona, with a reception following the service at the church.  Military honors will be conducted by the American Legion Leon J. Wetzel Post 9 of Winona following the service.

Darrel will be laid to rest in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Darrel Poffenberger, please visit our flower store.

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