Darrel Lorain Kolkman

DARREL LORAIN KOLKMAN

New London

Darrel Lorain Kolkman, 80, of New London, died Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clincs in Iowa City. He was born April 30, 1939, in Burlington, to Delbert L. and Olive Louise Walker Kolkman. On Sept. 3, 1960, he married Sandra Kay Jarvis at Pleasant Grove. He was a graduate of Yarmouth High School; attended two years at Burlington Jr. College, graduated from Iowa State Teachers College and received his master's at Northeast Missouri State in Kirksville. The Kolkman's were one of the founding families of Calvary Baptist Church, where he served on many committees and as a deacon several times. He enjoyed teaching and coaching, was very faithful to his church and loved promoting the Hackney breed. He spent hours and hours mentoring his two grandchildren whom he loved very much.

He was employed by the Burlington Community School District for 34 years, beginning at James Madison where he taught PE, coached track and football, and during this time, for two years coached sophomore football. Also during his time at James Madison, he was assistant basketball coach at Burlington Jr. College under Lloyd Haberichter when they placed second at nationals. He then taught PE and health at the Burlington High School for 22 years where he was the head boys track coach for 13 years and assistant football coach for eight years. In 1997, he took early retirement from teaching to focus on his Hackney ponies, developing Heartland Hackney Farm, which became the largest Hackney breeding farm in the world. Through the years, he received many honors and most recently was inducted into the Kentucky State Fair Horse Show Hall of Fame.

Survivors include his wife, Sandra; sons, Douglas of Yarmouth and Jay of Katy, Texas; daughter, Julie (Stephen) Seils of New London; grandchildren, Shae and Shayla Seils; brother, Dean (Yong) Kolkman of Wallace, Texas; sister-in-law, Janet Kolkman of Danville; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Gary; and infant sister, Valeen Louise.

The funeral service for Mr. Kolkman will be at 2 p.m. Dec. 5, at Calvary Baptist Church, Mount Pleasant. Burial will be at Trinity Cemetery, rural Mount Union. Visitation will begin at noon Dec. 4, at Elliott Chapel in New London, with the family present to greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m.

Memorials have been established for the Missionary Fund at Calvary Baptist Church and Shepherds Home and School for individuals with special needs.

Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.