Darrel C. Pettit, 74, of Kearney died Sunday, February 24, 2013 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.

Funeral services will Friday, March 1, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at Faith United Methodist Church in Kearney. Rev. Michelle Reed will officiate and burial will be at the Kearney Cemetery. Visitation is planned Thursday from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney or prior to services Friday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Faith United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society. Visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a message of condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney are in charge of arrangements.

He was born May 22, 1938 in Kearney to Clifford and Elizabeth (Smith) Pettit. He grew up in Kearney and graduated from Kearney High School in 1957.

On June 12, 1960 he married Judy Carman in Kearney.

He worked for Walnut Grove from 1965 – 1991 then worked for the Buffalo County Highway Department as a maintainer operator until retiring in 2007.

He was a member of Faith United Methodist Church in Kearney and a former member of the Kearney Eagles Lodge and the American Legion.

Darrel loved to bowl and participated on several leagues through the years and was also passionate about his yard. He enjoyed hunting and spending time with his grandchildren and in his younger years he was a golden gloves boxer.

Surviving relatives include sons; Rock Pettit of Kearney, Rick Pettit and wife Jodi of Kearney, grandchildren; Shawna, Greg, Macey, Bret and Brinlee Pettit, Lance and Jordan Bain, great grandchildren; Addison Callahan, Aiden Castaneda and Darrion Thompson, brother; Rolland Pettit and wife Barbara of Lacrosse, WI, sister; Barbara and husband Art Gragg of Tryon, NE, sisters-in-law; Joyce Wood of Kearney and Lois Stidd of Indianapolis, IN and brother-in-law Lonny Carman and wife Nila of New Plymouth, ID. He is also survived by his significant other; Pat Bailey of Kearney.

He was preceded in death by his wife in 1997 and grandson Derek Pettit in 2009