Darrel L. Vance, 83, of Scotia passed away on Tuesday, February 19, 2019, at the CHI St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 25, 2019, at the Scotia United Methodist Church. Pastor Bonnie Brock will officiate. Burial will be in the Mt. Hope Cemetery at Scotia. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Scotia United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Scotia Methodist Church, Mt. Hope Cemetery or the Family’s Choice. Ord Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Darrel Lee Vance was born in Scotia, NE to Floyd W. and Elsie L. (Fillinger) Vance on December 30, 1935. One sister, Doris, was added to the family in 1944.The Vance family lived on a farm for Darrel’s early years but then moved into town when his Dad managed the Coop station in town. Darrel attended Scotia Consolidated Schools for both his elementary and high school education. He was a good athlete and lettered in all sports throughout his high school years.
Darrel and Marcia were classmates and began dating their Junior year of high school after Marcia asked him to a Sadie Hawkins dance. They married on October 6, 1956 after Marcia had completed business school and Darrel had attended Wayne State College for 1 ½ years to play football. In 1958, David was born and in 1964, Michelle arrived to complete the family. Darrel worked for Greeley County for 10 years, and then began his career with Walnut Grove Feeds as a truck driver. When the company opened a depot in Scotia, Darrel became the manager. Toward the end of his 30 years with Walnut Grove, the depot was closed and he went back to driving truck until he was forced to retire due to problems with his eyes. He was a people person and seemed to know customers from all over the area.
Darrel loved the town of Scotia and was an active member of the community. He continued to be a great athlete and especially loved playing baseball on the town team. Throughout the years, he served on the Village Board, was the mayor, helped with the Homecoming celebrations and was the President of the Community Club. He served on the Mount Hope Cemetery board for years as the treasurer and spent lots of time walking the cemetery and creating maps and the directory as there were no books when he took over the job. He was a member of the Scotia United Methodist Church where he served as the lay leader and was an active member of the choir. He had a beautiful tenor voice and sang with the Barbershop Choir as well as entertained people at the local Homecoming celebrations. He was a member of the NLS Community Theater and active in the local Homecoming skits. Some of his most memorable performances were the Rhinestone Cowboy, Snoopy and he was also a member of a play that placed at state competition ahead of many of the Lincoln and Omaha theater groups. He also was a member of the Scotia Alumni committee and helped put together the banquet every August.
Darrel loved children, so when he retired, he became a volunteer at North Loup Scotia Elementary. He had a special bond with the students and they all became special to him. He would announce the local football games each Friday and always had a hug or encouraging word for each student. In his later years, he still loved to watch sports and kept up with all the teams, local, college and professional.
Darrel especially loved his own grandchildren and tried to attend anything they would participate in. He loved to garden, mow lawns and being outside. He was known for his quick wit and wrote many of his “famous” poems for friends over the years. Darrel lived his faith every day and touched many lives. He will be missed.
Darrel is survived by his wife, Marcia of Scotia, his son and daughter-in-law, David and Kathy Vance of Herndon, VA, his daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Michael Linke of Scotia, 5 grandchildren and their spouses, Jeff and Christine Vance of Burlington, VT, Brian Vance and Brett Vance, both of Herndon, VA, Kristine and Blaine Ryan of Mason City, NE, Jordan and Kloreace Linke of Kearney, NE, 2 great grandchildren, John and Benjamin Vance of Burlington, VT and one sister, Doris and Dennis Brown of Lincoln, NE.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
