Darlene Dorothy Dreessen, age 94, of Wall Lake, IA, passed away on Tuesday, September 22, 2015, at Twilight Acres Nursing Home in Wall Lake.
Darlene was born on September 3, 1921, to Edward and Frieda (Christiansen) Gehring in Schleswig, IA. She was baptized on June 16, 1922, in Denison, IA and confirmed her faith at St. John’s Lutheran Church. She attended country school through the eighth grade.
On October 28, 1939, Darlene married the love of her life, Leonard Dreessen at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Crawford County, Stockholm Twp. This union was blessed with two daughters, Cynthia and Judy. They made their home on a farm southwest of Wall Lake till 1968 when they moved into Wall Lake.
Darlene was a devoted wife and an amazing mother and homemaker. She was blessed with 5 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren and loved spending time with all her family. She was an avid card player and enjoyed her many friends in Card Club and enjoyed reading. She was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church and a member of the Ladies Aid Group.
Survivors include her daughters: Cynthia Kelly and husband Larry of Estherville, IA, and Judy Herrig and husband Speed of Wall Lake; five grandchildren: Janene Herrig Mickel, Bryan (Marni) Herrig, Nancy (Randy) Johnson, Jeff (Nici) Herrig, Phil Kelly; 16 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Ralph Alter; sisters-in-law Dorothy Hollander and Donna Miller; and many extended family members.
Darlene was preceded in death by her parents; husband Leonard; sisters LaMorn (Ed) Kropf and Lorraine (Hans) Dersien; brother Edward (Shirley) Gehring; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Alfred and Dorothy Dreessen and Marvin and Leona Dreessen; sisters-in-law Katherine Dreessen and Norma Alter; brothers-in-law Lowell Miller and Glen Hollander; and great-grandson Camden Herrig.