Born to Herman and Eleanor Apps on January 31, 1938, Darrel Apps was the youngest of his brothers, four years younger than Jerry and only 15 minutes younger than his twin, Donald. He was born at his family’s dairy farm, four miles west of Wild Rose, Wisconsin. Growing up, Darrel experienced a childhood without the modern luxuries of indoor plumbing or electricity.
Darrel attended the Chain-O-Lakes One Room School, and then continued his education at Wild Rose High School before going on to receive three degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
One day in childhood, Darrel became captivated by a patch of bright orange flowers growing under the eaves of his one room school. It was love at first sight. This spotting of the Orange Ditch Daylily began his lifelong pursuit of education and expertise on Daylily hybridization.
His first time away from his home (and his twin) was when Darrel went off to Madison in pursuit of his bachelor’s degree. His early college career was colored by a bit of loneliness and a lot of hard work. This experience shaped Darrel into a new version of himself- more independent and determined than ever. After graduation, he worked for the University of Wisconsin Extension Service at Black River Falls as a 4-H and Horticulture Agent, blending education with horticulture.
Shortly after, Darrel joined the Wisconsin National Guard and was called to active duty during the Berlin Crisis. This catapulted him outside of Wisconsin for the first time, and put a pause on his continued education while he served in Washington State. Darrel’s world expanded from a small farm in Wild Rose, to the campus in Madison, to the Pacific Northwest.
Knowing that he wanted to continue his education, after 11 months of service, Darrel came back to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to get his Masters and Ph.D. During this time, he reconnected with Marilyn Hansen, a fellow Wild Rose native who had graduated from Madison General and was working as a registered nurse. When Darrel asked Marilyn to marry him, she replied, “I’ll think about it.” This tickled him and he knew he had met his match.
Darrel became Dr. Apps, and Marilyn became Marilyn Apps. They spent their early years of marriage in Lexington, Kentucky where Darrel worked as a State Specialist in Ornamental Horticulture at the University of Kentucky. In Kentucky, Dr. Apps became “Dad” and Marilyn Apps became “Mom” to Lisa Marilyn Apps and Gretchen Julene Apps.
The Apps family moved from Kentucky to Pennsylvania, where Darrel joined the faculty at Penn State University. Soon after, Darrel was offered a prestigious opportunity with Longwood Gardens as the Department Head of Education. It was during this time that Darrel began to make his dream a reality, as he founded Woodside Nursery to patent and sell his own unique Daylily cultivars. He proudly noted that these flowers helped pay for his daughters’ college education.
After an internal restructuring at Longwood Gardens, Darrel was able to fully focus on mastering the cultivation of hardy, bright, and reblooming daylilies. Darrel and Marilyn moved to the Garden State and transformed their property into a vibrant sea of daylilies. They hosted not only family and friends, but also garden retailers and horticulture enthusiasts who flocked to buy Darrel’s creations.
Darrel’s dedication to crafting the perfect daylilies marks his innovation and expertise in his field. In 2004, the New York Times named him “Dr. Daylily” noting the miraculous work he did to create the “Happily-Ever-Appster” series of daylilies that bloom for up to 130 days each summer. Darrel hybridized over 450 daylilies, with several patented.
In 2007, Darrel and Marilyn returned to their beloved hometown of Wild Rose, Wisconsin. What was meant to be Darrel’s “retirement” was anything but. He spent every day working outside in the soil or inside in his grow room. He continued hybridizing daylilies along with landscaping and beautifying his home and neighborhood.
Although it was bittersweet to leave their family on the East Coast, Darrel and Marilyn were thrilled to be back in Wild Rose near their siblings and in-laws. Darrel dedicated his time in Wild Rose to bettering the community, not only through nature, but also through his work with the Kiwanis Club. He valued the impact he was able to provide students in Wild Rose, and mentorship he was able to give to so many in the community.
Darrel Apps lived a life full of beauty and adventure. In his work, he traveled to 6 continents and studied plants all over the world. Darrel’s work is revered by all, and the community both near and far will not be the same without him.
Darrel is leaving behind a lasting legacy, not only in his horticultural work, but also in his personal life. Darrel was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. His wit and humor made the house erupt with laughter. His work ethic was infectious, and his influence helped propel his grandchildren to succeed in their education and careers. He has shaped the lives of countless individuals, but his family always had a special place in his heart.
Darrel Apps is survived by his wife, Marilyn Apps, his children Lisa Sybrandt (Larry Sybrandt) and Gretchen Apps (Bill Gray), his grandchildren Justin Sybrandt, Jennifer Sybrandt, Joseph Sybrandt (Alexandra Sybrandt), Willie Gray, and Jacob Gray. Darrel Apps is also survived by his older brother Jerry Apps and his twin brother Donald Apps, along with many loving-in-laws. Darrel Apps was preceded in death by his parents, his two sisters-in-law, Ruth and Marcie Apps, and his brother-in-law Donald Berglund.
A visitation will be held at 10 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 31st at Holly Funeral Home in Wild Rose (630 County Road GH, Wild Rose, WI 54984)
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