Darlene Kelley

Amy Darlene (Thiles) Kelley was born July 27, 1920, to the eldest child of Edward W. and Cecil M (Kohl) Thiles on a farm near Panama, Iowa. Darlene attended country schools and graduated from Woodbine Normal School in 1937. She then taught country school until her marriage to L.J. “Bud” Kelley in 1943. Darlene was a true farmer’s wife helping with everyday farming as well as being an excellent cook, maintaining a huge garden, sewing, and also raising seven children. Bud died in June of 1980. Darlene moved to the Gretna Community Living Center in 2008.

Darlene was an active member of the Sacred Heart Church where she was an Extraordinary Minister. She enjoyed travelling to Israel, Italy and Canada as well as within the United States ~ including a cruise to Alaska.

Darlene died on Saturday, August 13, 2011, at the Gretna Community Living Center in Gretna, Nebraska at the age of 91 years and 17 days.

Darlene was preceded in death by her husband, Bud Kelley; son, Larry Kelley; sister, Edna Kelley; brother, Bill Thiles and “sister-in-law,” Doris Kelley. She is survived by her two sons, Dwayne Kelley of Omaha, NE, Charles (Carol) Kelley of Dunlap, IA; four daughters, Mary (Earl) Zeigler of Gretna, NE, Doris (Bob) Williams, Gretna, NE, Marge (Del) Zuern of Council Bluffs, IA, Edna McCool of Gretna, NE; 16 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; four sisters, Betty Montemuro of Long Beach, CA, Ada Mesenbrink of DeBorgia, MT, Claire (Earl) Kelley of Woodbine, IA, Donna (James) Archer of Woodbine, IA; sister-in-law, Verva Thiles of Woodbine, IA; and many other relatives and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial
10:00 am Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Woodbine, Iowa

Celebrants
Rev. Tom Coenen
Deacon Marvin Klein

Musicians
Mrs. Merrill McElwain
Dave Petersen

Pall Bearers
David Kelley ~ Joshua Zuern ~ Jeremy Zuern
Ryan Dobmeier ~ Austin McCool
Heath Kelley ~ Michael Kelley

Final Resting Place
Woodbine Cemetery
Woodbine, Iowa