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No Place Special

I made a post a while back letting everyone know that Darrell found out this winter that he had cancer. It is with regret that I post today that darrel has lost his battle. Darrel was an amazing guy and was very dedicated to giant pumpkin growing. He was great friends with Steve Krug (former Iowa record holder who has been out of pumpkins for two years but is back now after building a new house). Yesterday Steve told me of how much Darrel enjoyed his chat sessions and experiences here at BP. He refered to growers by their "CALL SIGN" everytime he talked to Steve. LOL, it wasn't a growers handle it was his call sign... mulitary talk I think. HA! Steve wanted me to let all Darrells friends here know that hey really enjoyed the time he spent here with you guys, BP was kind of his second home. He enjoyed picking everyones brains and chatting about this hobby. I enjoyed talking with Darrell and stopping in at his place for lunch a couple times on my way through his town. He was a great grower and his absence will leave a great hole in Iowas heart. Darrell you will tuely be missed bud.

4/24/2006 2:52:11 PM

No Place Special

To any of Darrell's friends who would like to send a donation for flowers please send me an email ...
[email protected]

I hope to be able to send a very beautiful arrangement to his funeral.

Thanks

Mike Frantz

4/24/2006 2:57:13 PM

dang -darrell was good guy i always liked talkin to him .he is not suffering no more-dont know what to say-life is short gotta have fun while you can do what you like to do

4/24/2006 2:58:14 PM

Sophia WV

Darrell was a friend from the first day I came to Bp last year.I enjoyed talking with him here and on the phone.I am really sadened by the loss and will miss him.We never know from day to day what life offers.It is up to us to make the best of it.All I can add is goodbye my Friend!!!!!!

4/24/2006 3:03:14 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Darrell was what I would call an Old Salt. His "Call Sign" comes from becoming one of the highest ranking enlisted personel of the United Stated Navy. He will be missed. I hope his seas have calmed now, and his ship has pulled into an excellent port of his choice.
Shannon

4/24/2006 3:54:03 PM

Follansbee, Wv

It's always sad to see a fellow Navy veteran pass away. The Master chief was a wonderful person. I chatted with him many times. He brought honor not only to himself and pumpkin growing, but to the Navy and his country as well.

Fair winds and following seas my friend.

4/24/2006 5:09:00 PM

[email protected]

MC will be missed. I always enjoyed chat with him & Mike is right. He did like to use the "call signs" now that I think about it. (smiling)

Rest his soul & Prayers to his family.

Over for now MC

4/24/2006 6:25:46 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Yes this is a sad day and will miss Darrell much this year and years to come.Don and I visited his patch last year and had lunch there and had a very good visit.His patch was as anyone would want one weed free and several nice pumpkins and they were even on secondarys.I took a picture of his patch and never posted it on here so if I can find it I will put it in mine for a post for Darrell. Darrell always was thinking about the problems I was having in my patch the last year and tring to help what he could with support and ideas.He was the first person I talked to when I went to Anamosa for the first time. I will miss Darrell very much.

4/24/2006 7:40:53 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

Darrell was the first person I met in Anamosa and he was a great mentor. I'm betting there are no vine borers in heaven. Grow 'em big up there Darrell!

Matt

4/24/2006 10:31:10 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Peace and Grace to MC! I was on chat with him a couple of times and his willingness to help was amazing. Peace, Wayne

4/24/2006 11:32:30 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Sad to lose such a dedicated grower and pumpkineer. I feel for his family, we're going thru the same thing here.
He'll be missed....God bless

4/25/2006 6:48:34 AM

West By God Virginia

Master Chief was one of the good guys for sure and will be missed. I chatted with him several times and he was always helpful. I enjoyed joking and laughing with him. May flights of angels sing him to his rest.

4/25/2006 8:37:38 AM

Ohio

I tell ya, this really crushes a person, I really liked Master Chef alot BS'd all the time with him on here and mostly through emails,its already weird the past few months not being able to email him or getting his emails out of the blue. Im really going to miss Darrell. Thanks BP.Com for having this site to meet great people like Darrell was.


Brooks

p.s. Mike when is his funeral services start? , and Email me with what kind of donation that will help out. If you have paypal Mike I can get you the money alot quicker.

4/25/2006 9:42:51 AM

No Place Special

Thanks everyone. I already have about $100 in donations and will be ordering a very nice flower set or maybe a plant for his services tomorrow. It will be from "your friends at BigPumpkins.com". If anyone else would like to donate then just send me an email and how much you plan to send. I hope the plant or flowers from bp is by far the most beautiful one there.

Mike

4/25/2006 6:58:42 PM

Simi valley, ca

SO its darrel thats the first one to break the 1500 lb mark !!! Hum, 50 lbs a day-with no splits ,,, no powdery mildew anymore ,,.. he was a fun person to chat with !! im chocked up while reading this to family >

4/26/2006 12:50:12 AM