Darlene M Rhodes

Darlene Mae Clark Rhodes-

Darlene Rhodes, wife, mother, grandmother, Christian, friend, volunteer, quilter, gardener, sudoku aficionado and painter went to be with God on November 22nd, 2023. This was a significant day as it marked the 60th anniversary of her first date with her future husband, Harold "Dusty" Rhodes.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 9th at 11:00 AM at Grace Lutheran Church. Burial will follow at Washington Township Cemetery in Duncombe, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 8th from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Laufersweiler Funeral Home.

Darlene was born in Mason City, Iowa on March 1, 1936, to Gladys and Bruce Clark. After graduating from Mason City High, she attended the University of Iowa and graduated in 1959 with a radiology tech degree. After working in Des Moines and Waukon, Iowa, she moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa to work for the Kersten Clinic. It was in Fort Dodge that she met Dusty on November 22, 1963 and almost one year later, to the date, they were married on November 28th, 1964. She and Dusty farmed and raised their family near Duncombe.

She was preceded in death by both of her parents, brothers Walter and Gordon and her husband Dusty. She is survived by her daughter Denise Eilers(Todd) Winnebago, IL; her son Dr Rob Rhodes(Lora) Lincoln, NE; and daughter Angie Copper(Greg) Humboldt, IA; and 9 grandchildren: Ben Eilers, Sara Eilers, Jillian Eilers, Lincoln Eldred, Sophie Eldred, Harrison Rhodes, Alex Copper, Rachel Copper, Claire Copper. Darlene was dedicated to her immediate family, as well as "adopted" family members and she was known for her welcoming smile, home cooking and ability to make someone feel at home. She and Dusty were passionate about giving to others and they instilled that into their children. Darlene and Dusty could also captivate a crowd with their ability to easy swing dance/ballroom dance, especially the jitterbug.

She served as a volunteer for over 30 years at Trinity Regional Hospital (Unity Point) and as a Title I reading volunteer in local grade schools. She enjoyed her time at Grace Lutheran Church helping with making quilts, Mission Haiti and Knit and Purl Group- knitting prayer shawls for those in need.

Memorials can be made to the Unity Point Foundation and Unity Point Hospice, Mission Haiti and Compassion International.