Darrel R. Hartwell

Darrel R. Hartwell, 67, of Mason City passed away at Good Shepherd Health Center on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at Grace United Methodist Church, with Pastor Nadine Nkulu officiating. Visitation will be open to the public an hour prior to the service, and from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, January 26, 2026 at Major Erickson Funeral Home. Memorials in Darrel's honor may be directed to the family.

Darrel Ray Hartwell was born in Mason City on May 10, 1958 to Larry Sr. and Margaret (Snook) Hartwell, one of four children. After his parents passed at a young age, Darrel and the other children were taken into the care of their grandmother. Darrel attended the Mason City School District until the age of 16, when he enlisted with the United States Marine Corps with the blessing of his grandmother. He would spend four years in the armed forces, stationed in Hawaii and later at Camp Pendleton, California. Attaining the rank of Corporal, Darrel specialized as a rifleman, and was awarded the Pistol Sharpshooter Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, and twice the Rifle Expert Badge, before his honorable discharge in 1979. He would remain deeply proud of his service to his country for his entire life.

After his time in the Marines, Darrel remained in California for a time to work in construction before he returned to his hometown of Mason City. He would continue his work in construction, assisting with the creation of the ShopKo parking lots. After leaving the construction industry, Darrel would spend a few years as a bouncer for the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, and several more years overseeing maintenance at the Wells Fargo Bank building. His most recent position had been as a truck driver, before his retirement.

Outside of work, Darrel shaped his life to spend time where he loved, with the people he loved. He made sure to spend a good deal of time at Big Blue, in the south side of Mason City, each year in his twenties. Darrel was an outdoors enthusiast, and spent plenty of time camping in woods, enjoying the company of his friends. Darrel's great sense of humor was widely known amongst all who encountered him. He also enjoyed touring the campgrounds of the area in his camper, which he owned and proudly maintained for over ten years. Even more than camping, Darrel loved being out on the water in his boats, of which he owned several over the years, including sailboats and pontoons. Spending an entire day out on the lake suited his independent nature, and his resourceful ingenuity frequently came in handy for maintenance and repairs. His presence, whether in the campgrounds, out on the water, or in the company of friends and family, will be deeply missed.

Darrel is survived by his sisters, Deb Austin and Cathy Fox; nephews, Tommy and Jacob Austin, and Enoch and Jessie Fox; niece, Charity Fox Herrald; Shane Taylor, who was like a son to him; and his faithful dog, Diamond.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Larry Sr. and Margaret Hartwell; and his brother, Larry Hartwell Jr.