Darlene Elsie Zierke Wiese, 86, of New Franklin, MO and formerly of Newton, IA, passed away at Katy Manor in Pilot Grove, MO, on February 6, 2019. She was born Sept. 30, 1932 in Osceola County, IA, to Paul Zierke and Elsie (Koenen) Zierke.
She graduated from high school in Worthington, MN. in 1950. As a young woman, she worked as a clerk at Montgomery Wards, and on June 21, 1953, she married Robert Peter Wiese at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Worthington.
He preceded her in death. In the early years of their marriage, Darlene worked as a homemaker. She was a generous and caring mother, an expert seamstress, and an avid gardener.
In November 1963, she and Bob moved their family to Newton, IA. Soon after, she completed training and was certified as a nurse’s aide. She went to work at Skiff Memorial Hospital in Newton, and for more than 30 years worked in a variety of positions.
She went on to work at Maytag Dairy cutting and packaging world-famous Maytag blue cheese before retiring. Family vacations invariably were camping trips and after retiring, Bob and Darlene hit the road in their fifth wheeler, spending winters in Arizona. A creative person with unlimited energy, Darlene took a cake-decorating course and professionally decorated cakes out of her home kitchen for many years.
She was a talented baker and the big heart-shaped Valentine’s Day cookies she made and decorated with greetings to each of her children and then her grandchildren are an especially fond memory. In addition to participating in a bowling league, she was active in a bridge club and with the women’s auxiliary group at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Newton. She also did calligraphy, cross-stitch and embroidery, and was a knitter and a quilter.
Darlene is survived by children Jan and Jim Fales of New Franklin, MO. ; Steve and Norma of Sioux Falls, S.D; Jim and Valerie of Ankeny, IA; Barb Hill of Kansas City, MO; Brad and Terry of Omaha, NE. ; and Shelly and Marvin Smith of Columbia, MO; as well as 16 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and siblings Daryle (Gerri) Zierke; Donna (Rodney) Scholtes; Dennis (Janet) Zierke and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by four sisters, three half-brothers, a half-sister, and son-in-law, Jeff Hill. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM, Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1900 N. 4th Ave. E, in Newton, IA with Pastor Daniel Provost officiating.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Newton Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church in care of Markland-Yager Funeral Home, P.O. Box 126, New Franklin, MO.
Condolences may be shared at www. marklandyager.com. Arrangements entrusted to Markland-Yager Funeral Home, New Franklin, MO.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
