Darlene Deloris (Koch) Eitzen, was born on June 17, 1932 to Carl and Mary (Dunlap) Koch in Fisher Township near Farragut in Fremont County, Iowa on the family farm.She entered into rest on May 16, 2014 at Fair Oaks Care Center in Shenandoah at age 81. She spent her childhood on the farm and attended Maple Grove country school before graduating from Farragut High School with the Class of 1949.
On June 18, 1950, Darlene was united in marriage to the love of her life, Flinton Eitzen, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Northboro, Iowa. Following their marriage they farmed near Riverton, Iowa before moving to rural Coin, Iowa. To this union, three children were born: Linda, Deb and David.
Darlene was a farmwife, farm helper, homemaker and seamstress for Bordeaux, Lewis Cleaners, family and friends. She was a wonderful, caring, loving mother and grandmother. Everyone she met describes her as the sweetest lady with a memorable smile.
In her early years, Darlene was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church until her marriage in 1950. After marriage, she became a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Shenandoah. She was also a member of the WW Club, which was a neighborhood club for sections 28 & 29 of Morton Township (Page County). In her spare time, she enjoyed cooking, sewing, houseplants, jigsaw puzzles and family genealogy.
Preceding Darlene in death were her husband, Flinton Eitzen; parents, Carl and Mary Koch; sister & brother-in-law, Joan and Paul Blalock; nephew, Ronnie Blalock; and brother-in-law Robert Koester. Survivors include her three children, Linda & Reldon Stoops, Deb Eitzen and David Eitzen; grandchildren, Laura & Shawn Everidge, Bethany & Christopher Maronde, Amber Eitzen, Brandelyn Eitzen, Thomas Stoops & Paul Kasal and Clete Jones; great granddaughter, Samantha Maronde; sister-in-law, Frieda Koester; other relatives and many friends.
Memorials are being directed to the Shenandoah Trinity Lutheran Church or Clarinda Lutheran School or Heartland Hospice of Red Oak. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah.