Darrell Thornley Sr.'s Obituary
Darrell Thornley, 89, of Spring Lake died August 18, 2015. He was born December 21, 1925 in Caddo, Oklahoma and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spring Lake.
A graduate of Durant High School, he entered the US Army at the age of 17 and served his country through three wars, attaining the rank of “friendly” First Sergeant, before retiring from military service and entering US Civilian Service in the Department of Defense’s Ammunition Procurement & Supply Agency at the Joliet Munitions Arsenal in Illinois. He had an iconic career of service in the Army, serving in World War II, two tours in Korea and three tours in Vietnam including a Department of State mission in 1959. Awards he received included the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart in WWII and Korea, Sharpshooter and Expert Rifle Bars, and numerous unit citations. Combined Army and Civil Service to his country totaled 30 years.
He met his wife and the love of his life, Grace Helena Riolo of Spring Lake, while both were stationed at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, and were married in 1955. Together they resided on military bases throughout the US with the family returning to the Tri-Cities area during his tours of duty in Vietnam. They returned permanently to Spring Lake in 1973. He enjoyed retirement in the Tri-Cities areas fishing, golfing “any day it doesn’t rain”, bowling in the winter months and traveling the US with Grace. He was active with local veterans’ associations - the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion. He was the Commander of the Spring Lake VFW post for over a decade until he led it’s consolidation into the Grand Haven post in 1985 where he then served in various leadership roles including Commander and Vice-Commander for over two decades. In these roles he acted for many years as the organizer of the Spring Lake Memorial Day Parade and assisted greatly with the financial turnaround of the Grand Haven VFW post in the late-1980’s. He was a core member of the committee for the WWII Memorial erected in Grand Haven’s Central Park, relentlessly soliciting contributions in the Tri-Cities area for the memorial.
He is survived by sons, Darrell Jr., (Kimberley) Austin, TX, and Dennis (Pamela), Spring Lake; eleven grandchildren: Michelle (Tom) Ackmann, Eric (Taunie) Paquin, Jeremy (Jamie) Paquin, Ryan (Emily) Paquin, Alex, Jack, Rick, Christopher, Grace, Sarah, and Rachel; sister, Neala Sue Carbary, Jones, OK; and dear friend, Eunice Kopka. He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Grace and sister, Josephine Goff.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, September 19, 2015 at VanZantwick Bartels Kammeraad Funeral Home in Grand Haven. Followed by a reception celebrating his life at the American Legion Post 28. Visitation will be 7-9 PM Friday, September 18, at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the Grand Haven VFW Sgt. Alvin Jonker Post 2326. (http://www.vfwpost2326.org/contact.php ). Please sign the family’s online guestbook at www.vbkfuneralhome.com.
The family is being served by VanZantwick Bartels Kammeraad Funeral Home of Grand Haven.
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