Darrell Neitzke

Darrell Herbert Neitzke was born September 16, 1939, the son of Herbert and Esther Bick Neitzke. He died Wednesday, November 23, 2016, at the Manilla Manor, at the age of seventy-seven.
Darrell was born in Hoskins, Nebraska and received his education in the Plainview High School, graduating there in 1957. He continued his education at Wayne State College, graduating there in 1962. He began his teaching career and taught in various Nebraska schools for thirty-three years. In his tenure of education, he was an award winning band director, taught accounting and other business classes. Music was his principal enlightenment and he was an inspirational band leader for his students. Schools he taught in include the Spencer Community High School, Stromsburg High School, Elkhorn Valley High School in Tilden, Nebraska, where he retired in 1996. After retirement, he began working at the Midwest Music Center in Norfolk, Nebraska where he was involved with sales and traveling to various high schools.
October 12, 1991, Darrell was united in marriage to Judith at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilden, Nebraska by the Rev. Charles Horkey. The couple settled in Tilden, Nebraska until moving to Manilla in 2005 where he continued his teaching career as a substitute teacher for Charter Oak, Schleswig, Manilla and Boyer Valley High Schools. Darrell enjoyed helping people, and visiting with anyone he met. He especially enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s sporting events in Iowa and Nebraska which included football, basketball and baseball. He was an avid Nebraska Husker fan. He was a member of the Denison Tractor Club, Tilden Lions Club, the Nebraska Gun Club where he often sharpened his shooting skills target practicing and enjoyed deer hunting. Of all of his interests, he enjoyed music the most. He was a lifetime member of the Nebraska Music Educators Association, the Nebraska State Band Masters Association, Nebraska Area Jazz Ensemble of Norfolk, Nebraska, the Plainview Clown Band, All Strings Attached Orchestra from Carroll, Iowa and the Schleswig German Band. He was past president and elder of Immanuel Lutheran Church, a City Council Member and Volunteer Fireman all in Tilden, Nebraska.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Connita and a brother, Norvell. Survivors include his wife, Judith; one daughter, Sarah; one son, William “Bill” and his wife, Glenda; step-children, Wendi and her special friend, Randy, Tricia and her special friend, Derrick; and Ross and his wife, Kathy; thirteen grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Starla; other relatives and many friends.