Mr. Darrell D. Kilworth, age 92, of Exira, IA, passed away on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Exira Care Center.
Darrell Dean Kilworth was born at the family home on September 14, 1932. He was the second of four children. His parents were Alonzo and Sadie Kilworth. He attended elementary school in a one-room country schoolhouse at Exira Township #6, Pleasant Hill School, walking just over a mile from his home to school. Darrell graduated from Exira High School in the Class of 1950.
On December 28, 1952, Darrell married Viola Petersen. Within a few weeks of their wedding in early 1953, he left for basic training in the Army. Darrell served in Korea with the A Battery 204th Field Artillery Battalion. He was stationed in Korea at the end of the war and celebrated July 29 as a very important day in his life. He was honorably discharged in 1954 with the rank of Corporal. Darrell always appreciated the military service of others and was a member of the Brayton Legion.
After returning home, Darrell went back to work on the family farm, where he and Viola raised four children: Joan, Mark, and twins John and James. They raised cattle and hogs, and grew corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. He enjoyed attending cattle auctions in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota, where he liked to look over the cattle and negotiate the best prices to bring home the next load to feed and raise to maturity. As a fourth-generation Kilworth on a Century Farm—owned and operated by the same family for 100 years—Darrell was proud that the farm is now designated a Heritage Farm, with 150 years of family ownership. His favorite saying was “just one more,” whether it was one more load of hay, one more row of corn, or one more of his favorite drink.
Darrell traveled extensively within the U.S. and visited Canada, Central America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He loved skiing with his “Oregon family” into his early 70s—imagine a farmer on skis! He was a strong supporter of the Exira and Brayton communities and the Atlantic YMCA.
Preceding his death were his wife, Viola Mae Kilworth; his parents, Alonzo and Sadie Kilworth; his brothers, Hugh Kilworth and Walter (Nadine) Kilworth; and his sister, Doris Anne Byrne.
Survivors include his children Joan (Bert) Hitzel Iowa and their family Paul (Andrea) Hitzel, and Diane (Dan) Bierbach; Mark Kilworth; John (Bernadette) Kilworth, and their family Bridgette (Brad) Johnson, and Gretchen Kilworth (Andrew Rudolphi); James (Kathi) Kilworth, and their family Kendal (Blair) Paulsen, Jessica (Greg) Richter, Witni Kilworth, Jameson Kilworth, and Josten Kilworth; numerous great grandchildren, nieces, nephews; and a brother-in-law and skiing partner, John Byrne; sister-in-law, Shirley Sherman; and other relatives and friends.
Private services will be held in honor of Darrell. Interment with military honors will take place at the Exira Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the Exira Fire Department or the Exira Community Club in memory of Darrell. They may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 201, Audubon, IA 50025.
Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Exira is handling the arrangements for the Kilworth Family.
