Daryl was an integral part of our OU Hockey program.  He was a tremendous help to every one of the Sooners hockey players since the inception of our program over six years ago and an absolute pleasure to be around, whether it was on campus, at the rink or around town in Norman. We are going to miss him terribly.

Daryl Wayne Mehl, 56, of Norman, Oklahoma, died Tuesday, March 31, 2009, in Norman, Oklahoma. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, April 4, 2009, at Riverside Church with Reverend John Stitt officiating. A private family interment service will be held at Lorraine Baptist Cemetery in Lorraine, Kansas, at a later date. Services are under the direction of Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman, Oklahoma.

Daryl was born July 19, 1952, in Ellsworth, Kansas, to Wayne Delmar and Donna Jean (Kempke) Mehl. He graduated from Ellsworth High School and received a B.A. degree in Business from Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. Growing up he was a member of the Lorraine Baptist Church in Lorraine, Kansas. Daryl married Jo Ann Droegemeier on June 15, 1974, in Ellsworth. They moved to Norman from Salina, Kansas, in 1978.

For more than thirty years he was a dedicated employee of the University of Oklahoma as an Academic Records Specialist. He was an avid sports fan, especially of OU football, and he served as the academic advisor to OU Hockey Club. Also an athlete, Daryl jogged more than 25,000 miles following a successful basketball, track and baseball career in high school. Daryl was also a member of Riverside Church in Norman.

He was a loving husband and father and will be deeply missed by his family.Survivors include his wife, Jo Ann Mehl, of the home; sons, Ross Mehl; Derek Mehl and wife, Tenille, all of Norman; parents, Wayne and Donna Mehl, of Lorraine; sister, Denise Wells of Ellsworth; brothers-in-law, Howard Droegemeier and wife, Shirley, of Hays, Kansas; Kelvin Droegemeier and wife, Lisa, of Norman; four nieces and four nephews, a great-niece and three great-nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Daryl W. Mehl Memorial Fund, which has been established on behalf of the OU Hockey Club, c/o the OU Foundation, 100 Timberdell Road, Norman, OK 73019.

Send condolences online at http://www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com/Obituaries.htm