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Obituary for Darwin Curtis Hentz
Darwin Hentz passed away peacefully at age 96 on November 25, 2021 in Parker, CO.
He was born on February 21, 1925 near Rosholt, SD. He grew up on a farm near Rosholt and graduated from Rosholt High School. After graduation he enlisted in the Army hoping to become a pilot. Unfortunately, the Army had enough pilots so he joined a Paratroop unit. He served from 1943 to 1946 which included time in the South Philippines where he contracted several “jungle diseases” and spent 5 months in a military hospital. He played basketball in high school and with a travelling team of WWII veterans after his service. He graduated from Stout University in Menomonie, WI with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Education. He married the love of his life, Mavis Ellingson, on June 11, 1948. They went to high school together but didn’t start dating until he returned home from the Army. They had three children, Donovan, Duane and Luann. They built and ran the “first asphalt race track west of the Mississippi”, Raceway Park, in Shakopee, MN. He lived an amazing life and frequently said “I did what I wanted to do.” He traveled, played golf (including 5 hole-in-ones!), fished, hunted, water skied, downhill skied, got his pilot’s license and made his own hanger and runway on his property in Shakopee. In retirement, Darwin and Mavis learned to play golf and to downhill ski together. They were inseparable up until Mavis’ death in 2015. In addition to Mavis, he is preceded in death by his son, Don, brother, Cecil, and parents, Roy and Josephine.
He is survived by his son, Duane Hentz (Maureen), and daughter, Luann Hentz (Tom Game), 6 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and his sister Sharon Schmelzle (Lloyd). The family will gather this summer for a memorial and burial of ashes.
