Daryl Drilling

Daryl Drilling, age 78, of St. Lucas, IA, died on Sunday, November 16, 2014 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by the Rev. Nick March on Thursday, Nov. 20, at St. Luke Catholic Church in St. Lucas.

Burial was in the church cemetery. Military rites were conducted by Aloysius Schmitt American Legion Post 691 of St. Lucas.

Casketbearers were Wayne Schmitt, Dave Drilling, Linda Steinberg, Brian Drilling, Chris Sogard, and Nicole Klemmer.

Honorary casketbearers were Daryl’s 11 grandchildren.

Arrangements were handled by Schluter-Balik Funeral Home in Decorah.

Daryl Francis Drilling was born on August 9, 1936, the son of Earl and Velma (Jarosh) Drilling near St. Lucas.

He graduated from St. Luke’s Catholic School in 1954. 

After high school, Daryl joined the US Army and served two years in Alaska as a USO Mechanic from 1954-1956.

Daryl then furthered his education at Hamilton Business College in Mason City, Iowa where he earned an Associate’s Degree.

While in college, he met and eventually married the love of his life, Audrey Klemmer, the daughter of Ted and Agnes Klemmer, of St Lucas. They were united in marriage on January 20, 1958, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas. In January of 2014, they celebrated 56 years of marriage. Daryl and Audrey have been blessed with 5 children who adore them. Together they worked side by side their entire working careers.

Because of Daryl’s love for his family, he worked especially hard all his life to provide for them.  Daryl was an accomplished business man. Over the years, he owned and operated the Klemmer Grocery Store, where the present White House is located, Drilling’s Grocery Store, Drilling’s All Season Sports in St. Lucas, and then Drilling’s All Season Sports in Calmar.

In addition to these occupations, Daryl had many interests. His number one joy was family, and he also enjoyed work. He loved conquering a challenge that required more than just nuts and bolts, as he loved fixing, modifying, and creating.

Daryl also enjoyed golf, fishing, playing cards, snowmobiling, spending time with his nearest friends, and entertaining family. Daryl was a good hearted, loving man with many talents and was dearly loved by many.

He was a member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church and Aloysius Schmitt American Legion Post #691.

Daryl is survived by his wife: Audrey Drilling, St. Lucas, IA.  Five children: Dawn Drilling, Eden Prairie, MN; Dean (Judy) Drilling, Avon, IN; Carol (Rick) Bollman, Cresco, IA; Rhonda (Pat) Kuennen, Mantorville, MN; and Sandi (Jeff) Swenson, Edina, MN. Eleven grandchildren: August and Basia Drilling, Amy, Kyle, and Haley Drilling, Madison and Elliott Pike, Evan and Lily Kuennen, Sam and Max Swenson. Three brothers: Loras (Joyce) Drilling, St. Lucas, IA; Earl (Kathleen) Drilling, Waucoma, IA; and Jack (Sue) Drilling, Decorah, IA. Two sisters: Darlyn (Luke) Schmitt, Waucoma, IA and Sue Ann Pederson, Hastings, MN. One aunt: Ann Claassen, Waterloo, IA. Two brothers-in-law: Merle (Kathy) Klemmer, Clear Lake, IA, and Dan (Mary Lou) Klemmer, Dublin, OH. One sister-in-law: Karen (Mike) Sogard, Clear Lake, IA, along with many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Daryl was preceded in death by his parents: Earl and Velma (Jarosh) Drilling and his father-in-law and mother-in-law: Ted and Agnes (Hauer) Klemmer.

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