Darrell Earl Wrede, 81, Springfield, MO, passed away on Monday, March 21, 2016, at Mercy Hospital.  He was born November 23, 1934, in O'Neill, Nebraska, the son of Earl E. and Martha E. (Lawrence) Wrede.

Darrell was a man with many interests who loved music, movies and books, and was an avid reader.  He also collected license plates and was an active member of The Automobile License Plate Collectors Association (ALPCA).  He was a very kind and gentle man who loved his family.  He was a Christian.

Darrell served in the United States Air Force.  He worked for Nabisco in sales and as a driver, and for Otasco and Montgomery Wards in sales.

Darrell is survived by his wife of 61 years, Stella (Parker) Wrede; two children, son Mark (Sandra) Wrede of Springfield, and daughter Debra (Bill) Lipira, Kansas City; a sister, Helen Prewitt; two grandchildren, David (Alicia) Wrede and Niccole (Dave) Broughton; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.  He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

Graveside services with full military honors will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 25, 2016, at Hazelwood Cemetery under the direction of Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel.  Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the National MS Society.