Englewood, CO – Darrell D. Porter, age 75 of Englewood CO, and formerly of Fennimore, WI went to be with the Lord on July 24, 2013. Darrell was born on May 21, 1938 in Fennimore, WI, the son of Herman and Mildred (McKee) Porter. He married Tanya Wilson on June 30, 1983 in Englewood, CO.
Darrell was born and raised on a farm in Fennimore, WI and attended Wisconsin State College & Institute of Technology in Platteville, WI, where he received a B.S. in Mining Engineering, and the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO, where he obtained his Masters Degree. After graduation he went to work for DuPont, who helped him achieve his PhD in Mining Engineering at the University of Minnesota.
Darrell worked for DuPont for 17 years, where he became one of the foremost explosive experts in the country. He worked on several important projects, and has his name on many patents.
After leaving DuPont, he worked for Amoco Oil Shale on the original Rio Blanco Oil Shale project in Colorado. Upon completion of this project, he took a position with SAIC where he finished out his career as Senior Scientist on the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository project in Las Vegas, NV.
Darrell retired January 1, 2000. He enjoyed camping with his family and friends and being involved in church, where he was an active member in the adult Sunday school class and served on several committees and boards throughout the years. Darrell spent many happy hours working in downtown Denver at a soup kitchen where they served the homeless once a week. He also enjoyed working in the yard and garden, and taking the kids camping and skiing. Darrell and Tanya enjoyed traveling to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and Alaska.
He is survived by his wife, Tanya Porter, of Englewood, CO, daughters; Sally (Garry) Wright of Ashburn, VA, and Mary (Russell) Green of Leesburg, VA, step-daughter Wendy Armstrong (Bill McMillian) of Houston, TX, stepson Robert Bradshaw of Denver, CO, eight grandchildren, sister Janice (DeLyle) Davenport of Brodhead, WI, sister-in-law Beverly Jean Porter of Fennimore, bother-in-law Virgil (Ione) Kasper of Baraboo, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Darrell is preceded in death by his parents, daughter Anne Porter, sisters; Marlene Kasper, Ella (Fred) Heberlein and Inez Porter, and brother George Porter.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday July 30, 2013 at the Fennimore United Methodist Church with burial to follow in the Prairie Cemetery in Fennimore. A visitation will be held from 4-8:00 P.M. on Monday evening July 29, 2013 at the Larson Family Funeral Home in Fennimore and from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service at the church on Tuesday morning. A memorial service will be held on August 17, 2013 at Tanya and Darrell’s residence in Englewood, CO. In lieu of plants and flowers, a memorial fund is being established in loving memory of Darrell D. Porter. Online condolences may be made at www.larsonfuneralhomes.com.