Darrel Mand

Darrel J. Mand, 79, dreamer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, father, brother, grandfather, musician, developer, role model and a man ahead of his time, passed away Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at Progressive Care Center surrounded by his loving family.

     Born February 5, 1944 in Sheboygan, Darrel was a son of the late Clarence and Gertrude Schnur Mand. He attended Sheboygan area schools and Central High school and graduated with the first Class from Sheboygan South High School in 1962. On January 25, 1964, he was united in marriage to Linda Herr at St. Peter Claver Church.

     Darrel wrote the following narrative for the Sheboygan County Historical Museum’s “Third Saturday” program entitled “It’s Only Rock & Roll! Sheboygan County 1957 to 1982 which was presented on January 16, 2010.

     I have been asked many times what made me enter the world of playing in a rock’n roll band. I guess it goes all the way back to the mid 50’s when drumming on my first drums gave me the drive to play professionally. My first drums were plates forks and knives, sticks of any shape, anything that made sounds when I hit them together. I progressed to buying my first real drum that I had to earn money for by cutting grass, shoveling snow and helping anyone for money. I was both rich and poor back then. Rich with a great mom and dad, who gave me a great work ethic, but poor with money in my pocket. I did not have enough money to even buy a stand for that snare drum, an old chair worked just fine. Piece by piece a year later, I finally had a full set.

     My first group had a mix of Hawaiian guitar, trumpet, oboe and the drums. Hmmm, not a great rock ‘n’ roll combination. Then it hit me! A song on the radio by the Everly Brothers, “Wake Up A Little Suzie”. Then another by Buddy Holly, “That’ll Be The Day”. I had to play that music. All this happened when I was ready to enter high school. I met my very first real rock band called the Teen Kings. I could not even do a simple roll on the drums, and the guys gave me my first lesson. Wow! Looking back, I was terrible! But never seeing a real band play, my ego was larger than my ability. A few weeks later, the band went to the YMCA for our first dance. The Crown Jewels were playing! I walked in 10 feet tall and after one song; I was deflated to a 3’ high midget. It was then that I got an important lesson in life, “no matter how good you think you are, there is always someone better.” (cymbals crash)

     Our first job was a battle of the bands at the old Sheboygan Theater. I hate to brag, but we came in fifth place!!!! (There only were five bands in the contest by the way.) As the years went by, I stuck with the bands and took many side roads, all dealing with music to support my family. I not only played the drums, but started my own talent agency, owned my own music store, owned a concert production company, owned a sound and light business that provided National acts this service, designed and installed sound/lights for discotheque in the mid west, plus owned and operated nine night clubs in Wisconsin and North Dakota. I won’t list the other non-music things that kept me going.

     I owe a lot to my late parents who not only gave us a place to practice every night, but who gave us a trailer to haul the gear around and even let us use the car to pull the trailer. I guess my story is pretty close to many others who started their early bands. Most had to work very hard to get started. Nothing was given to any of us looking back. It was a great way to keep us from trouble. A hard life at times, but looking back, I would not trade any of it for a softer life. We all appreciate things more if we have to work for them. Yes, I made mistakes, but would not change anything to this day.

     The old saying in this business is, “don’t give up your day job”. I used to be employed as a electrical draftsmen, which had a nice wage. By day, I parked my rear end at a drafting table, wearing a white shirt and tie. I’d then run home, put on my love beads and hit the road with the band to the next gig. Play the job, tear down the gear and hit the road to get home. Many times with little or no sleep as I did most of the driving back then. I learned another lesson……..”lack of sleep gets painful”. There came a day when my boss at the electrical firm said, “Darrel, what do you want to do, work here or your band, you can’t do both”! Hmmm, easy decision at that time. I picked the band….and never looked back. I just had to make it financially or sink. This meant taking more chances. At that time, I was also running a music store on a shoe string. I made the decision to go to the NAMM show in Chicago, “just to look around”. I was warned by Rosie the accountant to “not” buy anything, as we could not afford it. I came back from the show and presented her with a bill for $2800 for a sound system that I ordered. She hit the roof!!! I had to muster all of the courage I could to tell her that was not the total cost of the system, rather, the “monthly payment”!!! And, 18 more “payments” would follow. This made me do whatever I could to make those payments. I started doing sound reinforcement for clients like REO Speedwagon, Bob Segar, Ted Nugent, Mike Pinera (Alice Cooper), etc. Many of these shows I also promoted. I’d also try to squeeze in any local bands for the opening acts for exposure purposes; always wheeling and dealing, to keep the refrigerator full.

    In addition to his many musical interests Darrel stumbled upon another passion. In the early 1970’s a family members (his great grandma?) home required added space. Interested in architecture, Darrel designed a dome structure as an addition to the existing dwelling. Realizing this could be his next business endeavor, he placed a small ad in Mother Earth Magazine, offering Geodesic home plans and a brochure for $5. The response was so overwhelming that he rushed to Sears and purchased a mimeograph machine. Natural Habitat Domes came to fruition and later went on to ship dome homes globally.

     In the late 1980’s Darrel’s vision for the revitalization of the Sheboygan Riverfront led him to the former Navy Reserve Property located next to the 8th Street Bridge. He began by creating the 28-room hotel, brilliantly named “A Harbor Inn” to ensure an early listing in the phonebook and later continued with construction on two additional buildings. Many people today still speak of one of the businesses located there, the beautiful 3rd floor hot spot, Classics Antique Bar.  Classics was one of the first establishments whose music was all played via MTV music videos on a giant screen.

     While Darrel clearly didn’t have a personality that could sit idle for long he later did settle into his own personal dome home in “The Hills of Plymouth”.  He was able to relax here and enjoyed grilling brats on the deck with family and living life to the fullest with his many German Shephards throughout the years and just recently found a fondness for cats.

     He will be deeply missed and remembered by his children,Wendy (Charles) Rodgers, Sheboygan Falls, and Mark (Jennifer) Mand, Sheboygan; his grandchildren, Amanda (Josh) Barton, Kayleigh (Courtney) Heckman, Jordan (Megan) Shimmell, Niall Shimmell, Holly Rodgers, Heather Rodgers, Kasha (Josh Fick) Ramsey, Trevor (Morgan) Arnoldi, Mariah (Billy Baumgardt) Mand, Addison Mand, and Ayvah Mand; numerous great grandchildren; and his brother, Ronald Mand, Valders.

     Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister-in-law, Judy Mand.

     A Rock N Roll Celebration of Life is being planned for a later this fall.

     The family would like to thank the countless individuals that continually visited Darrel to share laughs, love, popcorn and smoothies and the nurses and staff of Sheboygan Progressive Care Center. A very special thank you to Darrel’s granddaughter Mariah who dedicated so much of her time to caring for him over the past 2 years: Mariah, your family watched in in awe as you treated him with such dignity, respect and kindness. Your loving care and concern assured his peaceful (when you weren’t talking) transition and gave comfort to all of us. You left us with a better understanding of what family is truly all about.

     “I will lead you into the woods but allow you to find your own path” – Darrel Mand

     The Olson Funeral Home & Cremation Service has been entrusted with Darrel’s arrangements.