Darrell La Verne Clayton O`Rourke was born in Holmen, Wisconsin in 1933. During a four-year enlistment in the United States Air Force, he met and married Hellen Jean Sorrell in 1952. On July 2, 2008, they celebrated their fifty-sixth wedding anniversary.
Darrell and Jean became Christians in Canon City, Colorado on November 29, 1959. A year later they moved to Stevens Point, Wisconsin. In March of 1962, Darrell began preaching full-time with two mission churches in Merrillan and Tomah, Wisconsin. From 1971 through 1975, Darrell worked with the church in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Brother O`Rourke resigned to attend the School of Practical Evangelism in Arlington, Texas under the direction of Ivan Stewart. After graduation in 1976, he worked as Personal Evangelist with the Central church in Ada, Oklahoma.
In 1977, the O`Rourke's moved to Naperville, Illinois to begin, what is now known as the AFishers of Men Ministry@ under the oversight of the Naperville church of Christ. In 1978, Chuck and Leslie Thyne joined the O`Rourke's in Naperville and the team was in place (Chuck passed away in 1993 from cancer). To cover more area and work with mission churches, Darrell and Jean moved to northern Wisconsin in 1983.
In 2006, Darrell and Jean moved south to be near Greg, Pam, Clay, and Tater Boren for a support system. They now live in Florence, Alabama. Darrell continues to conduct Fishers of Men Training Courses in Alabama and the surrounding states.
The Lord blessed the marriage of Darrell and Jean with three daughters, Vicky, Pamela and Susan.
Vicky and Barry Sterling live in Yukon, Oklahoma. Barry works for Seagate Technology as Executive Director of Contracts. Vicky does a lot of work in the Educational Department of the South Yukon church of Christ. Both Vicky and Barry are graduates of Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. They have two daughters: Tricia Sterling (28) is a graduate of Harding University and is the Head Director of the Band Department in Benton, Arkansas. She is also planning for “Wedding Bells in December 2008. Cristi Killian (26) is a graduate from Oklahoma Christian University and works for Oklahoma Gas & Electric as an Electrical Engineer. On July 22 of 2006, Cristi was united in marriage to Kelly Killian and they live in Yukon, Oklahoma. Kelly also graduated Oklahoma Christian University as an Electrical Engineer and works for AT&T Cell Phone Division.
Pamela and Greg Boren graduated from Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tennessee and they now live in Florence, Alabama. Greg works for Sutherland Sight and Sound installing audio and visual equipment. Pam works for the Lambert Book House in Florence, Alabama. They have two sons who are students at Mars Hill Bible School. Clayton (17) is a junior and Charles (Tater – 15) is a sophomore.
Susan and LeRoy Korntved live in Rhinelander, Wisconsin and have three children. Heather (24) and Joshua (20) live in Marshfield, Wisconsin. Rhiannon (11) our youngest granddaughter lives at home. Sue graduated from Nicolet Technical College in Rhinelander. Sue and LeRoy both work at the Marshfield Medical Clinic in Minocqua, Wisconsin.