Darrell A. Juedes, 72, of Tomahawk, passed away Jan. 3, 2021 in Tomahawk. Darrell was born Oct. 7th, 1948 to Edwin and Helen (Canon) Juedes in Merrill, Wis.
Darrell grew up in a large, loving family with his parents and 13 siblings. Along with all the neighboring Stevensen kids they had no problem filling up a school bus! Every position was covered for both the home and visiting teams in a game of baseball.
After graduating from Tomahawk High School, Darrell was drafted and sent to fight in Vietnam with the Army’s 101st Airborne. Not long after landing, he was wounded twice and was awarded two Purple Hearts for his service.
Shortly after returning home, Darrell met and then later married Joan Joslin. They were united in marriage on July 27, 1974. The couple lived in Rhinelander, Wis., while raising their two boys, Andy and Travis. He later was united in marriage on Oct. 10, 2019 to Betsy Hersant. They lived in Rhinelander until moving to the cottage in Tomahawk this past summer.
After working many jobs throughout his lifetime, Darrell retired from the Oneida County Highway Dept. in 2005. It was not long after his retirement he got “bored” with his time between golfing, racing snowmobiles and flying RC airplanes that he started working for Daigle Brothers Fabricators & Machinists delivering steel. He loved this job and continued working there until he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019.
Whatever his sons were interested in, he took to as well, as a way of spending more time with them. To name a few, RC cars and planes and vintage snowmobile racing. He would go “all in” and built at least 18 RC airplanes and at one point having nearly 30 sleds in various conditions to piece together their race sleds. Later joined by his daughters-in-law, Stephanie and Heather, in racing, they all combined for dozens of trophies over the years. His dream of racing in the World Class Vintage Snowmobile Derby in Eagle River was realized and rewarded with a trophy.
Darrell enjoyed living at the river, pontooning, kayaking, having bonfires and lighting off fireworks.
Above all else, he loved being with his family and friends, and they loved being with him. He was the proudest grandpa you’d ever meet and provided many memories and all of the “Darrell stories” that will live on.
He is survived by his wife, Betsy; his son Andrew (Stephanie) Juedes of Sun Prairie; step-son Casey (Lisa) Hersant, of Van Meter, Iowa; step-daughter Elizabeth Hersant of Wittenberg; adored grandchildren, Adaline, Evelyn and Levi Juedes and step-grandchildren, Isla and Ivan Hersant; two brothers, Roger (Judy) Juedes, Gary (Fern) Juedes; three sisters, Judy Stine, Sandy (Ward) Carstensen and his twin sister Darlene “Tina” (Bill) Evans. He is further survived by numerous brothers and sisters-in-law, countless nieces and nephews, godchildren, and many cherished friends.
Darrell was preceded in death by his first wife, Joan; son, Travis; daughter-in-law, Heather Juedes; parents, Edwin and Helen Juedes; brothers, Wayne, Larry, Duane, Dale and Bruce; and sisters, Sharon, Dawn and Kaye.
The visitation for Darrell took place on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021 at the Hildebrand Funeral Home from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. The services and burial with full military honors were private.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hildebrand Funeral Home & Cremation Specialists, 24 E. Davenport Street, Rhinelander, Wis., 54501, 715-365-4343. Everyone is invited to sign the guestbook, or leave an online condolence at www.hildebrandrussfh.com.