Darrell Christensen

Darrell James Christensen of Audubon, Iowa, died peacefully surrounded by his family at the Exira Care Center on March 23, 2026. He was 80 years, 8 months, and 12 days.

Darrell was born in Atlantic on July 11, 1945, to Elmer and Caroline (Kjergaard) Christensen. After graduating from Exira High School in 1964, he was drafted to the Army to serve as a Military Policeman in South Korea from 1965 to 1967. On November 8, 1969, he married Sylvia Jean Plagman, and in 1973, they moved to their dairy farm west of Audubon, where they raised four children, Tammy, Dan, Rick, & Mike. When the dairy barn burned in 1978, Darrell switched to farrowing hogs and later began a herd of angus stock cattle. He was well known as “Iron Horse” on the CB radio, and Darrell won several awards for his high-yielding 200 bushel corn and for his pork production as well.

Darrell loved to fish. He took several trips to Canada and around the midwest to go fishing with his friends, sons, and grandkids, and he knew all the best fishing spots around Audubon. He also enjoyed camping with his family on summer weekends. Darrell loved his Chevy pick up trucks and John Deere tractors, including his JD50, which was his original farming tractor, and he enjoyed driving it in local parades. On Friday and Saturday nights, you’d often find Darrell at the Audubon and Harlan race tracks. He always cheered for Dale Earnhardt (both #3 and #8), the Iowa State Cyclones, and of course the Audubon Wheelers. Most of all, he enjoyed being “Papa” to his eight grandchildren.

Darrell is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sylvia, his sisters Norene (Christensen) and Wayne Moreland; Linda (Christensen) and Lee Jensen; his children Tammy (Christensen) and Will Sauers; Dan and Jill (VanAernam) Christensen; Rick and Brenda (Olsen) Christensen; Mike and Quinn (Huebner) Christensen; and his grandchildren Taylor (Sauers) and Cory Brooks, Johanna Sauers, Jacob Sauers, Drew and Molly (Armentrout) Christensen, Jaci Christensen, Katelynn Christensen, Kane Christensen, and Chevy Christensen; and his great grandson David Christensen and great granddaughter Josie Brooks.

Funeral Services will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Kimballton, where Darrell was also baptized and confirmed, with Pastor Tim White officiating.

Burial with Military Honors will follow at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. A luncheon will be held following the committal in the St. Patrick Parish Center.

The family will greet friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Audubon.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Bethany Lutheran Church.

The Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Audubon is caring for the Christensen Family at this time.