Who: Darrel L Bland.

Who: Darrel L Bland, an educator and minister who used on the same level his last year of life to help other populace

How and when he died: Aug. 12 from colon cancer.

Age: 55 His birthday was July 4 "because he was a firecracker," said his wife, Carol Bland.

After about 25 years as a teacher and principal, Darrel Bland left his piece of work with the North Kansas City exercise District in 1996 to proceed into ministry. Over the nearest few years, he and his wife worked for Young Life, serv as youth ministers in El Dorado Springs, Mo and worked at a Christian visitor ranch in Estes Park, Colo before settling at Lake of the Ozarks.

Bland was teaching special education in Stover, Mo when he was diagnosed with cancer. There were setbacks and comebacks — the cancer would disappear, then turn back He and his wife mov back to Kansas City, and