Funeral Services will be Friday, December 15, 2017, 11:00 A.M. at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fairfax with Pastor Scott Muske officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Military Honors by the Fairfax Honor Guard.

Visitation will be Thursday, December 14, 2017, from 4:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. at the Hauser-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Fairfax. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

Darwin Jerome Black was born on August 14, 1933, in Wellington Township, Renville County, Minnesota. He was the son of Albert and Mabel (Deterling) Black. Darwin was baptized as an infant on September 10, 1933, and was later confirmed in his faith as a youth on March 21, 1948, both by Reverend E.G. Fritz at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Wellington Township. He attended public school, then he went to District #56 and Emanuel Parochial School in Wellington Township. He then helped his folks on the farm.

Darwin entered active Military Service on January 4, 1955, in the United States Army, and earned his GED while serving. He received the Good Conduct Medal. Darwin was Honorably Discharged on December 19, 1957.

After his discharge, Darwin lived on his parent’s farm until he met JoAnn Sommerfeld. They were married December 28, 1958 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, by Reverend Paul F. Nolting. Darwin farmed, they then moved to Windom, Minnesota, and ran the Traveler’s Motel from March of 1963 through October of 1964. They moved back to Fairfax and worked his parent’s land, eventually purchasing the farm from his dad and continued farming until he retired. Darwin worked with his brother Milton setting up ag bins (Stor-Mor Bins). He shingled and also did cement work with Elmer Shefus and Arden Black. In his later years, Darwin worked winters at Hands, Inc. in Winthrop and also worked housekeeping at Jackpot Junction.

Darwin was a member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fairfax and served on the cemetery board.

Darwin enjoyed playing his concertina. He played his concertina at several nursing homes. Darwin loved old tyme music, dancing, and spending winters in Arizona. He especially loved spending time with his family and friends.

Darwin is survived by his wife, JoAnn Black of Fairfax, MN; daughter, Debra Suchomel and her husband, Jeff of Lake Havasu City, AZ; son, Steven Black and his wife, Becky of Alexandria, MN; grandchildren, Bryant Black and his wife, Meghan of New Ulm, MN, Bennett Black of Roseville, MN, Mitchell Suchomel and his wife, Kayla of Shakopee, MN; great-grandchildren, Samantha Mortenson, Dominick Mortenson and Jordie Black; siblings, Lorna Kocourek of Glencoe, MN, Ed-Vern Black and his wife, Sharon of Fairfax, MN/Mission, TX; in-laws, Ruth Black of Fairfax, MN, and Jim and Mary Sommerfeld of Sleepy Eye, MN; godsons, David Kocourek of Lake Bluff, IL, and Lyle Black of Gibbon, MN; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Darwin was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Mabel Black; step-mother, Rose Black; grandson, Carl Mortenson on March 1, 2008; great-granddaughter, Reese Elizabeth Black on December 5, 2013; godson Ed-Vern A. Black in December of 1979; brothers, Loren Black as a youth, Marfield Black and Milton Black; sister, Marella Larson; in-laws, Howard Larson, Robert Kocourek and Donna Black.

Arrangements by Hauser-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Fairfax, Minnesota. Online obituaries and guest book available at www.hantge.com Please click on obituaries and guest book.

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