Darrin "Duke" Sulsberger

Darrin “Duke” Sulsberger, 57, of Hornick, Iowa passed away unexpectedly, Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at his home.

A visitation will be held 5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. Friday, June 19, 2026 at the Hornick United Methodist Church, Hornick, Iowa. A celebration of life service will follow the visitation at 7:00 P.M. Friday, June 19, 2026 at the church in Hornick with Pastor Catie Newman, officiating. A live stream of the service will be posted on the Goslar Funeral Home website with Duke’s obituary. A private family burial will be held in the Willow Township Cemetery, Holly Springs, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.

Darrin Lee Sulsberger was born on October 22, 1968, in Onawa, Iowa, to Gary and Sheryl (Worrell) Sulsberger. He was raised in Holly Springs and graduated from Westwood High School with the class of 1987. During his high school years, Duke was a dedicated multi-sport athlete who enjoyed participating in a variety of sports. In his younger years, he had a passion for rodeos and enjoyed riding bareback horses and bulls. After graduating from high school, Duke attended Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska, where he played baseball and continued to pursue his love of athletics.

For several years, Duke owned and operated Sulsberger Construction, specializing in decorative concrete. He also farmed alongside his brother, Wade, for many years.

Duke enjoyed both watching and playing baseball, as well as pitching horseshoes, fishing, and spending countless hours searching for fossils and rocks. He was known for his loyalty and was a steadfast friend to those he cared about.

Survivors include his mother, Sheryl Ratliff of Oracle, Arizona; his daughter, Leiah (Ryan) DeJoe of Tucson, Arizona; two grandchildren, Knox and Tage; step mother, Bernie Sulsberger of Moville, Iowa; brother, Wade (Rachel) Sulsberger of Hornick, Iowa; sister, Stephanie (Joe) Guthridge of Kingsley, Iowa; nieces, Kenleigh, Kamri, Karli, and Emie; nephews, Jace and Ozzie; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Art and Mollie (Day) Worrell; paternal grandparents, Alvin and Leah (Metcalf) Sulsberger; father, Gary Sulsberger; brother, Gary “Sam” Sulsberger; and son, Garret Sulsberger.

Condolences may be left online for the family at www.goslarfuneralhome.com

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