Darrel Sombke

Darrel Ray Sombke left this foreign land for his home in Heaven on January 9, 2012, as promised to him by His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Services will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, Jan. 13th at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Ferney. Rev. Lloyd Redhage will officiate. Burial will follow in St. Paul's Cemetery under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton.

Visitation will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m.

Darrel Ray Sombke was born June 4, 1941 to Alvin and Adeline (Breitkreutz) Sombke at home. He attended grade school in Ferney and graduated in 1959 from Groton High School. As a teenager he began emptying railroad coal cars. Darrel started the Wheel Inn at Ferney in 1962. He was united in marriage with Beverly Albrecht on July 8, 1962 in Columbia, SD. Together they made their home in the Groton area where they were blessed with two children, Brad and Brenda. Darrel began working for the Brown County Highway Dept. In 1969 he started his own business "Sombke Feedlot Cleaning and Snow Removal." He was later employed with the Groton Farmers Elevator and Cenex Transportation.

Darrel was a lifelong member of St Paul's Lutheran Church in Ferney, where he had served in many different offices and currently as an elder. He enjoyed softball, hunting, ice fishing, gardening, and bowling. Together, he and Bev enjoyed snowmobiling, camping, and golfing. One thing he was really glad he experienced was racing in the Winnipeg to St. Paul Snowmobile Race and several State Governor's Cups. He especially enjoyed playing sports himself and later watching his own children, nieces and nephews and later on his grandchildren play sports. He was an avid Minnesota Twins and Vikings fan. Darrel had served 19 years on the Groton Volunteer Fire Dept. He was most proud of his children and the spouses they married, his grandchildren and that they know that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior. His favorite memories were camping at the State and Brown County Fairs when Brad and Brenda were in 4H. Gardening and meat processing were all passions of his. He was happiest about sharing 49 wonderful years together with his wife, Bev and regretting nothing.

Celebrating his life is his wife, Beverly, his children, Brad (Kristi) Sombke of Indianapolis, Indiana, Brenda (Brad) Waage of Groton; grandchildren, Tanner Waage, Anthony "Tony" Waage, Kayla Sombke, Elise Sombke; his brothers, Curtis (Jancie) Sombke, Dallas Sombke, Larry (Sharon) Sombke, Gary (Lori) Sombke and his sister, Darlis Hamilton. Darrel is also survived by his mother-in-law, Grace Albrecht; brother-in-laws, Wilber (Judy) Albrecht, Leland (Vickie) Albrecht Albrecht; his sister-in-law, Lavonne (Marshall) Gesling; his aunt, Darlene (Herman) Wahl and many beloved cousins, nephews, nieces and their families.

Preceding him in death were his infant children, Paul, Barry and Jenifer; his parents; paternal grandparents, Albert & Louise Sombke; maternal grandparents, Herbert & Evelyn Breitkreutz; his sister-in-law, Carol Sombke; brother-in-laws, Lester Albrecht, Carl Bue, Jr. and Laurel Hamilton and his father-in-law, Fred Albrecht.

Honorary Casketbearers will be Jim Bahr, Wally Fischer, Rick Carlson, Steve Dunker, Denny Morrison, Clinton Hanson, Pat Stoebner and members of the Groton Volunteer Fire Dept.

Casketbearers will be Curtis Sombke, Dallas Sombke, Larry Sombke, Gary Sombke, Wilber Albrecht, Leland Albrecht and Marshall Gesling.

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