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- Darwin Dwayne Wille
June 11, 1931 - January 26, 2022
Darwin Dwayne Wille, 90, of Sun City, AZ passed away on Wednesday, January
26, 2022 at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ.
- He was born June 11, 1931 near Klemme, IA to
Cornelius and Marie (Thiemann) Wille. Darwin graduated from Klemme High
School in 1948 and served in the United States Army from 1952-1954 in
Colorado where he first fell in love with the mountains.
He was united in marriage to Opal Weinheimer on June 8, 1958 in Fontanelle,
Iowa, and they lived near Klemme, Iowa on the Wille Homestead. After his
time in the Army, Darwin spent his career on the farm, growing corn,
soybeans and raising pigs. Darwin and Opal raised three children, Todd,
Lisa and Sara. He was a wonderful father in many ways. He taught them the
value of hard work, and supported them in all of their sports and other
activities throughout the years, and continued to do the same with his
grandchildren. Darwin enjoyed serving on various boards in the community
and at their church, Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ in Klemme.
He loved to travel and take his family on camping trips, visiting many
states across the country. He was always planning the next adventure.
Darwin and Opal moved to CO from Iowa in 1986, due to his health, leaving
the Iowa humidity and dust behind. He loved the Colorado mountains, and
also enjoyed the hobby of woodworking and tole painting, creating many
pieces for home and holiday decor. They continued to travel with their
Pleasureway RV and covered many miles, often with a caravan, making
lasting friendships nearly everywhere they went. Darwin had interstitial
lung disease, and eventually had to have full time oxygen because of
Colorado’s altitude. In 2013 they moved to Sun City, AZ where he no longer
needed the oxygen machine. He again was active in the community, serving
on their church board and as president of their HOA. He loved Sun City!
Darwin is survived by his wife, Opal, children Todd (Lynette Michon) Wille
of Sacramento, CA, Lisa (Scott) Fetty of Lenexa, KS, and Sara (Jeff)
Miller of Kremmling, CO, and grandchildren Jordyn, Alison and Mark Wille,
Canon and Gabriel Marin, all of CA, Kyle (Heidi) Forland-Fetty, Colin and
Jared Fetty of Lenexa, KS, Jamie (David) Church of O’Fallon, IL, Jordan (Shea)
Miller, Garrett and Audree Miller of Kremmling, CO. Darwin is also
survived by his sister, Adala Bailey of Britt, IA.
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- He was preceded in death by his parents, infant
daughter, Dona, and 6 siblings, 5 of whom reached the age of 90+.
A Celebration of Life Service for Darwin will be Monday, February 21, 2022
at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of the Palms, 14808 North Boswell Blvd, Sun
City, AZ 85351 with a luncheon following the service. Burial will be in
Klemme, Iowa in July.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made in memory of
Darwin to the Banner Health Foundation to support Banner MD Anderson
Cancer Center, 2901 N Central Ave, Suite 160, Phoenix, AZ 85012 (note on
memo line: Banner MD Anderson, Darwin Wille Memorial); or The Church of
the Palms, 14808 N Boswell Blvd, Sun City, AZ 85351.
Celebration of Life, Monday, February 21, 2022, 11:00AM at The Church of
the Palms, 14808 N. Boswell Bvd, Sun City, AZ 85351