Darrell H. Acker, Sr., 90-years-old, of Marshfield, Wisconsin, passed from this world on Sunday, November 8, 2020. Darrell was born to Ervin and Marie Acker on September 25, 1930, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He had three brothers, Gordon, Richard, and Ken, all of whom predeceased him. His grandson, Nickolas also predeceased him.
In his early years, Darrell helped with his brother’s newspaper route, worked raising celery in the greenhouse at age 12, and worked with his father as a carpenter and built houses. Darrell began his lifelong calling working at Tuckaway Country Club, Franklin, Wisconsin as greenkeeper in 1944 and later became a golf professional there in 1949 after graduating from Pulaski High School in 1948, where he designed signs for the school while in art class. In 1951 he became the youngest head golf professional in Wisconsin, at Oconomowoc Country Club.
Darrell was inducted into the army in the Fall of 1951 and was stationed in Germany as a ham radio operator at the time of the Korean War. He received an honorable discharge in 1953 and lived in Stratford, Wisconsin raising mink for a few years before becoming assistant golf pro at Rivermoor Country Club in Waterford, Wisconsin owned by Dick and Mary Swift, brother-in-law and sister of Jane.
Darrell and Jane met at Rivermoor Country Club, fell in love, married April 21, 1956, and celebrated over 64 years of marriage. They had five children. Darrell worked at Brynwood Country Club, Milwaukee as assistant golf pro for several years before leaving to work as head golf pro, green superintendent, and general manager at Stevens Point Country Club, Stevens Point, Wisconsin in 1960. Darrell was elected to the Wisconsin PGA board of directors from 1961 through 1966. He wrote monthly State of Wisconsin golf news articles for PGA Magazine 1964-1966. He was Vice President at large in 1965 and was voted “Golf Professional of the Year” for the State of Wisconsin in 1966 and “Golf Course Owner of the Year” for the State of Wisconsin in the 1970s.
In 1967 Darrell bought the Marshfield Country Club (MCC), Marshfield, Wisconsin, and later designed and built an additional nine holes to convert MCC to an 18-hole course. He also built a driving range and mini-golf. In 1981 Darrell won the Wisconsin Senior Golf Championship. Darrell was charter Treasurer of Golf Course Owners Association of Wisconsin, was named Hornung “Man of the Year” and is a Life Member of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America. He was also a member of the American Legion, VFW, 3rdand 4thdegree Knights of Columbus, Eagles, Elks, and Concertina Club.
Darrell enjoyed telling stories, especially about golf, and giving golf lessons. He loved his wife and children. He enjoyed traveling with his wife across the US in their RV, playing bandoneon, concertina, and harmonica; polka music, making his own greeting cards, sketching, water, and oil painting. He enjoyed telling jokes and making people laugh.
Darrell is survived by his wife, Joan (Jane) Acker of Marshfield, WI; his children Darrell “Chip” Acker, Jr. and his wife Pam, of Wisconsin; Angela Daniel and her husband Arun, of Massachusetts; Andrew Acker and his wife Vicki, of Georgia; Martin Acker and his wife Paula, of North Carolina; and Anna Macosko and her husband Ron, of Oklahoma; and his grandchildren Kiersten, Anna-Miciah, Benjamin, and great-grandchild Noah.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 14, 2020, at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, Marshfield, where a visitation will be from 10:00 am until service time. The service will be streamed online at www.facebook.com/rembsfuneralhomes.com. Rev. Douglas Robertson will officiate, and military rites will be conducted by the American Legion Post 54 at the church following the service. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Rembs Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Lifelong lover and expert of golf, self-taught, great sense of humor, artistic, jovial, great storyteller, musician, loving, and faithful to God and his family. We will always love you. 88 and 73.
Author: News Desk
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