Darold Nadeau

Darold was born on November 4, 1931, to Clifford and Blanche Nadeau in Graceville, Minnesota. He passed away peacefully on September 15, 2026, at the age of 94, in Puyallup, Washington, surrounded by those who loved him.

He loved telling stories about growing up on the farm in White Rock, South Dakota—the bread his mother used to make, snowy winters, and galloping into town and through thick, fog-dusted snow on his favorite horse. These were some of his most memorable stories, fittingly shared alongside his lifelong love of Western movies.

Darold moved to Tacoma, Washington, in 1942 and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1949.

Darold was drafted into the Army in 1952. He served as a Personnel Specialist with the First Cavalry Division in Manila and Tokyo. He was honorably discharged in 1954 and returned to Tacoma, where he began his lifelong career in the grocery business. He was the manager of the Piggly Wiggly in Parkland for many years. It was there that he met his wife, Mary, with whom he shared 57 years of marriage.

Darold had so much patience with people, children, and animals. He loved his job and enjoyed working with the public, but what mattered most was that he always came home from work, loosened his tie, and hopped on his bike for a ride down Cherry Lane with his daughters, Nancy and Marie, to see the horses.

Darold loved his garden and was always up for a cup of coffee. He was a wonderful dad and an exceptionally loving grandfather to his granddaughters, Samantha and Megan. He loved baked treats like those his mother used to make, especially cheese on his apple pie. He also delivered tomato starts to his granddaughters to plant in their gardens, instilling in them his own love of growing things.

Darold was very close with his family and was loyal, kind, and dependable to all he encountered.

Darold is deeply missed by his family, including his wife of 57 years, Mary; his sister, Carole (Russ) Kitto; his daughters, Nancy (John) Odom and Marie (Steven) Lynn; his granddaughters, Samantha (Samuel) Davidson and Megan (Dylan) Schafer; and his great-grandchildren, Wesley Darold Davidson, Juniper Marie Davidson, and Lillian Laura Davidson; and many nieces and nephews.

We are grateful and blessed to have shared so many years with such a wonderful man. His stories, kindness, humor, and love will stay with us for generations to come.

There will be no service, per Darold’s request, though he will forever remain in our hearts.

“Hooray for Hollywood…”