Darrel Johnson Vorwaller, 86, beloved husband, father, grandfather, passed away May 16, 2017 after suffering a subdural hematoma. He was born on December 26, 1930 to Louis and Bernice Johnson Vorwaller. He grew up on a farm in Tooele, Utah and graduated from Tooele High School. He attended Brigham Young University until called on a 2 Ω year mission to West Germany. He was drafted into the military service and selected to attend counter intelligence training Fort Holabird, Baltimore, MD. Assigned as counter intelligence agent to the United States Embassy in Bonn, Germany. Darrel encountered his beautiful future wife Ruth Schmalz from Switzerland while attending a German speaking devotional service on Temple Square. They were engaged two weeks after the encounter, and married six months later in the Salt Lake Temple. They shared many common interests; love of learning, the performing, literary and visual arts, social issues and human development. Darrel received a master degree of Social Work from the University of Utah. He worked a couple of years as an executive of social agencies in Ogden and Salt Lake City. Awarded a NIMH scholarship to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. After receiving a PH.D. in sociology and social work was offered an assistant professorship at the School of Social Service Administration the University of Chicago. Authored many articles in his chosen field of studies and published in professional journals. Later joined the firm of KPMG LLP as management consultant for not for profit social service organizations, leading to a partnership. He assisted state and local governments to obtain funding from the federal government for social service programs. Served as member of the Chicago Board of Health, President of the Mental Health Organization of Greater Chicago, member of the Economic Advisory Council to Governor Thompson of Illinois. Darrel and his wife Ruth chaired many fundraising events in Chicago to benefit the arts and mental health. Returned to Salt Lake City and joined the LDS Department of Auditing, where he served as program compliance auditor and management consultant in the geographical areas of the Pacific, USA, South America, Far East, and Europe. After retirement became an adjunct professor of sociology at Salt Lake Community College. Darrel was a lifelong member of the LDS Church and served faithfully in many callings. He and his wife Ruth served as hosts at the JSMB and a Salt Lake Inner City Mission. They continued to be involved with social service and human development projects and as volunteers with Utah Opera. His greatest love and joy in life was his wife and family; a sentiment he expressed repeatedly. Darrel was a true gentleman and Renaissance man. He is survived by his beloved wife Ruth; son Gregory (Ava) Vancouver, BC, daughter Elizabeth Miller (Bob) Grantsville, daughter Claudia Vorwaller (Larry Rawlins) New York, NY, son John (Tricia) Salt Lake City; grandchildren Robert, Adam, Eric, Rachel, Tyler, Michael, Kate, Jacob, Liam, Brooke; brothers Don (Karen), Wesley (Ann), Terry (Christine) and sister LuAnn (Mike). Preceded in death by his parents Louis and Bernice Vorwaller and brother Blaine Vorwaller.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to the nursing and rehabilitation staff at St. Joseph Villa Rehabilitation Center for the excellent care they provided.
A viewing will be held Monday, May 22, 2017 from 6:00 to 8:00pm at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 East 1300 South. Funeral services will take place Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at the Princeton Ward Chapel on 1005 South 2000 East, Salt Lake City at 12:00 noon, with a viewing prior to services from 10:30 to 11:40am. Burial at Elysian Burial Gardens, 1075 East 4580 South, Salt Lake City.
