Darlene Giesen

Darlene M. Giesen, 82, of Cassville, passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2019, at Mercy Medical Center, Dubuque, Iowa. Memorial services will be at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, August 26, 2019, at Calvary Community Church in Lancaster. Pastor David Arevalo and Pastor Mike Christensen will officiate. Burial will be at the Beetown Cemetery at a later date in a private ceremony. Friends and family may call from 4:00 p.m. until the time of the service on Monday at the church. The Melby Funeral Home & Crematory of Platteville is serving the family. Memorials may be made to the Darlene M. Giesen Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.

Darlene was born on January 5, 1937, on the Christensen home farm in Beetown Township, the daughter of Neal and Cecelia (Wade) Christensen. She was the fourth of seven children tagging along after her elder brothers and sister. Sometimes this got her into trouble. At times there was even bloodshed, unfortunately often-times hers. She was united in marriage to Donald C. Giesen on May 19, 1953, at the Congregational Church in Lancaster. At that time, Don was in the US Army during the Korean Conflict and was eventually stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base near Anchorage, Alaska. Darlene joined him in Alaska the following January, where she learned the ins and outs of being an Army wife at the age of 17. After his discharge, Darlene and Don began their life together as dairy farmers, renting a farm near Lancaster. They continued to rent until they bought their own dairy farm near Bloomington in January 1970. By that time, they had completed their family of five children. Darlene had gone back to school at Southwest Technical College in Fennimore to complete her final high school semester and received her diploma in 1969. She and Don bought the Christensen family farm from her mother in 1978. Darlene and Don sold the Bloomington farm in December 1984 and moved onto the Christensen family farm near Beetown in the Spring of 1985. In the mid-1980's Darlene began working at Lands' End, usually in the returns department. Being the brave and confident driver that she'd always been, she made the 45 mile drive to and from Dodgeville daily with panache. She made many good friends during her 21 years, and finally retired to enjoy life on the farm with Don. Her five children had grown and married, and she became an awesome grandmother, and, eventually, a great grandmother.  

Darlene loved country living, ducks, bunnies, deer hunting, fishing, and hunting and eating morel mushrooms. She was very much a “home body”, but she enjoyed traveling with husband Don through the western US to Oregon state several times over the years. She and Don also traveled to see her children in Bakersfield and Minneapolis and later Oklahoma City and Chicago. She was an amazing scratch cook and baker. She sewed clothing for her children and even created a niece's wedding gown. She shared her cooking, baking and sewing skills with her daughters and granddaughters.

Darlene's beloved husband preceded her in death on October 10, 2011. She remained on the family farm, tending to her bird feeders, watching the squirrels and rabbits enjoy the large yard and trees, and enjoying frequent visits from her children, grands and great-grands, and many friends. On occasion she hosted Christensen family reunions, with relatives coming from as far away as New York, California and New Zealand.

Over her 82 years, Darlene was a solid example for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, living her strong faith in Jesus, and demonstrating her love for Him and for her family, as well as her ethic of hard work and play.

Darlene is survived by five children, Pamela (Dennis F.) Clauer, Donald A. (Barb Laundrie) Giesen, Peggy (Dennis) Freymiller, Deborah M. Giesen, and James R. (Marianne) Giesen; honorary son, Dan (Billi Jo) Hyer; 15 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Bea (Wayne) Martin and Joy Ann Christensen; brother-in-law, Robert (Gloria) Giesen, sister-in-law, Winnie Christensen; and several special nieces and nephews who loved her like a mother. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald; son-in-law, Robert Havlik; granddaughters, Stephanie Giesen and Tilah Page; grandson, James Giesen on May 6, 2019; siblings Jerry Lee, Marlin (Irene), and Neal Jr. Christensen, Dean (Sandy) Hamlin, and Grace (Thomas) Giesen; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Laura Rauch, Bill and Art Giesen, and Eunice Hauk.

And this is how mom is going home...“Careful as I can at 110” and “Hoggin' down goodies all the way home.” - Giesen-isms.

We miss you, but our hearts are not broken because we know where you are and who you're with, and we'll see you on the other side.